PURE

The music here is worth 4 stars in my opinion, but the concept and lyrics force me to give it 4.5 stars. Haha. Usually it's the other way around. I must say that I was concerned with the direction this band was going after they released the "Believe" album. It had it's moments but really it didn't compare to such classics as "Not Of This World" and "Masquerade Overture". Fast forward to 2008 and this new record called "Pure" and what they've done is make it a lot heavier and darker than the sound on "Believe". It's the concept though that really intrigues me. E-Dub explains it really well in his review. We follow the life of this young man who like all of us had this purity as a child, but then we see that purity seem to disappear through life's problems, bad decisions, bad self esteem and on and on. "Where is the boy who used to smile and wave to all the passing strangers ?". This is where I need Finnforest's input.

"Indigo" opens with this low end sound as the guitar comes screaming in and the dog is barking.The dog is barking ? The main melody kicks in after a minute as riffs then vocals join in. Nice guitar after 3 minutes. It's darker before 6 minutes before it kicks back in with power. I like the lines "If I could just get one arm free..." Great section ! It's followed up with some gorgeous guitar from Barrett that goes on and on to the end. Fantastic ! "Eraserhead" hits the ground running and vocals join in before a minute. A calm 2 1/2 minutes in with background synths, some cool sounding guitar and samples. It kicks back in 4 minutes in with a good powerful sound. The contrasts the rest of the way are well done. I love the eerie section 8 1/2 minutes in to end it. "Comatose (View From The Seashore)" opens with piano and reserved vocals as synths and guitar sounds help out. A change 2 minutes in and then it kicks into gear heavily a minute later. Check out the guitar and drumming after 4 minutes. A calm 6 minutes in and we get some orchestral sounds after 7 minutes that disappear as drums join in. It blends into "Comatose (Space Cadet)". It turns dark and atmospheric after 2 1/2 minutes. Lyrically it's about how our subject has turned paranoid and decided to take a gun to school.

"Comatose (Home And Dry)" has this psychedelic flavour and when it gets fuller before 1 1/2 minutes it reminds me of PORCUPINE TREE. This is atmospheric with samples. Our subject is getting stoned and looking at his Hendrix posters. I like the guitar late as it lazily plays. "Freakshow" is like a kick in the crackers as we get repeated riffs then synths roll in before the guitar starts to solo. The riffs are back briefly. Vocals 2 minutes in.This song has such meaning about how as teens we start to focus on ourselves too much and worry what others think about us. "It's Only Me" opens with harmonica and piano.The harmonica definitely sounds like the sax on a SUPERTRAMP song. Vocals come into this laid back tune. It gets fuller before 4 minutes. Barrett comes in with this guitar solo that goes on and on. So uplifting. Piano ends it.

This is close to being a 5 star record. It may turn into that for me. Very cool that Peter Gee thanks "Andy Latimer & Hoov" in the liner notes. Get well Andy ! This is definitely a top 10 for 2008.