MEN SINGING

I guess I'm in a mood tonight. I'm in the mood to review some of the albums from 2013 that I really haven't liked. Henry Fool's "Men Singing" is one of these, especially since its title is ironic in the fact that there is absolutely no singing here. Sigh.

Another album that promises a good variety of instruments, "Men Singing" doesn't utilize any of these elements to any effect. I was especially underwhelmed by the strangely discordant sax. It just feels out of place among the very low key sounds being generated here. Repetitive and ungraceful, the music seems to hover in one spot with random flute or sax passages creating most of the variation. Now, don't get me wrong, the sax and especially the flute are beautiful. I just don't think they are used well.

This is one of those albums where NOTHING HAPPENS. You will wait an entire song expecting some kind of climax or some sort of soul to present itself, but the same plodding music plays over and over until it just ends suddenly. The track "Man Singing" is a good example of this. It goes on and on, and just when you think something is going to happen, nothing does. The entire album goes on at this pace, and you start to glance at your watch to see how long it's been.

Overall, this album is pretty. It's capable, and some people might enjoy it. However, I really find nothing here at all. There is some much potential energy that is just never released, and so much potential for excellence that is never revealed. It's sad really, as I kinda like the zany tone and the mix is good. I just wish something would happen to make this music interesting in the slightest.