Winter Sounds - Album Review - EU Jacksonville 6-14-07

entertaining u newspaper: your weekly guide to entertainment

<< The Besties | Main | Larry Mangum >>

porcelain empire

by erin thursby scopes1925@msn.com

Artist: Winter Sounds Title: Porcelain Empire Release Date: 06.26.07 Label: Livewire With their first CD, Land of No Output, the Winter Sounds made a fan of me, so I eagerly awaited their next album. Unfortunately, I was a little disappointed in their newest album, Porcelain Empire. Many of the songs on the album were remakes taken from Land of No Output, against which I formed a natural prejudice because they differed from the originals I loved. It was difficult for me to listen to those tracks with fresh ears because Land of No Output had been in my CD player for so long. The newer tracks on Porcelain had the same multi-layered, complex sound and harmonious lyrics that are the trademark of the Sounds. What I didn’t like is that the haunting vocals weren’t given the breathing room they had in the first album. As layered as the sound was, in the first album it seemed that they pared back all the extras at opportune moments so that the harmonies and dead on-great lyrics could hit the listener for maximum impact. In Porcelain Empire though, it was a little difficult to hear the forest for the trees, so to speak, and the vocals were oft times lost in a thicket of impressive sound. But Porcelain is a work of art worth listening to and the Sounds are a band worth watching. There are many tracks which will catch you, like the hard-driving opener ‘Windy City Nights.’ The Sounds successfully forge emotion and longing with punk-beat melodies that will have you discovering something different every time you listen to Porcelain. Whatever my prejudices, Porcelain hasn’t left my car because it’s kept me interested, and I think it will do the same for listeners who are attracted by an intuitive, but cerebral pop-punk sound.

Be In The Know!
Sign up now to receive EU's weekly newsletter updates
on your desktop!

EU Critic’s Choice Awards

We are sending our food critics out to Jacksonville’s favorite local restaurants on the hunt for the best menu items in town. Who do you think has the best burrito? What about cheesecake? Lend us your expertise and nominate the items you believe to be the tastiest in town, and we’ll send our critic’s out to taste it and compare it to other nominees!

Get EU on Myspace!

EU BLOGS

· Joystick Revolution
(Norm Stovall)

· Shot From The Hip
(Rick Grant)

· Rachel Best Blogs
(Rachel Henley)

· jaxvillain
(Jon Bosworth)

· jaxeatdrinkandbemerry
(Erin Thursby)

Entertaining U Newspaper, eujacksonville.com. Published by N2U Publishing, Inc. 3101 University Blvd., South #201 Jacksonville, FL 32216. Copyright N2U Publishing, Inc. 2006. Reproduction of any artwork or copy prepared by N2U Publishing, Inc. is strictly prohibited without written consent of the publisher. We will not be responsible for errors and/or omissions, the Publisher's liability for error will not exceed the cost of space occupied by the error. Articles for publication are welcome and may be sent to the following address: 3101 University Blvd., South #201 Jacksonville, FL 32216. We cannot assume responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts and photographs. For information concerning classified advertising phone 904-730-3003.