1. "Falling Out of Trees" - My second favorite song on the album. This song starts out simple, with lyrics and sparse musical accompaniment. Gradually, guitars, drums and strings add in, culminating in a majestic, almost angelic instrumental break and final chorus that makes music nerds like me smile.
2. "It's About Time" - Guitar, along with lyrics, is what makes this song special. It helps to create a current of frustration over feelings that can't be expressed, no matter how hard one tries to get them across.
3. "Lesser Things" - As weird as it sounds, this song seems to be written from the point of view of a guy who loves a girl and is asking his love if she'll still have him in spite of her oppressive (I wanna say mother) One lyric sums it up: "Will you have me in spite of her?" The song sounds like a plea for a girl to escape the prison her life has been; it's refreshing. The vocals are sung in an insistent manner and backup voices sound like a conscience echoing feelings in the background.
4. "Colors" - A lifelong love is finally being expressed in this song. The narrator (for lack of a better word) of the song admits, "... I have had 22 years of trying to form the words..." The song brings to mind an image of emotional release, of love FINALLY being expressed after years of having to hold it in. It's uplifting, especially for those of us who know exactly how it feels to be unable to tell someone how you feel.
5. "Come Back When You Can" - Strings, sparse drums, a sliding guitar, and (of all things) an "oh-ah-ooohhh" in the chorus make this song make me think of driving alone in a car, singing to someone who can't hear you. It's futile, but it makes you feel better all the same. It's lonesome and beautiful at the same time.
6. "Get Up" - My favorite song of the album, hands down. The song is sad, make no mistake about it. A simple, pulsing piano part, along with the pure singing of the vocalist make it heartbreaking. But what brings the song to its climax is a gradually intensifying, repeating plea by the narrator of the song for his love to "get up," with a female harmony joining in with the same lines directed at the narrator of the song. They both need each other, but the song ends without us knowing if they ever got up. The song sticks with you for a while after it's over.
7. "The Takers" - This is one of my least favorite songs on the album. This song makes me think of young men who don't understand the nature of love, but they try to get the girls they want, nonetheless. One line asks, "What makes these monsters cry" and states that "greedy hands grab what feels right." The narrator of the song understands he is not good for the girl of the song, but he still pleads with her to stay with him because he thinks she can "save this beast." It's a unique spin on the love song, and the music drives it home by establishing an urgent atmosphere throughout the song.
8. "First Floor People"- Again, piano and heartfelt lyrics take center stage here in a song that I believe is about a young man struggling to find his place in the world. Like so many of the songs on this album, this song is both painful and uplifting at the same time. Painful in that the narrator of the song is struggling, but uplifting for the listener because he or she knows that they are not alone in feeling lost.
9. "Response" - This song makes me think of a youth rebelling against the world. Along with music that helps me conjure up an image (something I do a lot of) of a young man just walking along a sidewalk, looking around at people he can't relate to or understand. He tells them "I'll fight you all." This dude is determined to give the world hell. At some point, haven't we all been?
10. "Faded" - Once again, this song is heartbreaking, but beautiful. This man is lost. He laments, "Oh god I'm faded out, no more straight lines." Strings play a prominent role in making this song the heartstring-tugger that it is. Still, it's a beautiful song.
11. "Stars" - This song is beautiful, but there's a sort of pain running through it. It's almost as if the couple in the song (that's how I interpret the lyrics, at least) is looking over what's around them, and things just keep seeming to come up a little short. If we've ever been in a high school relationship, I'm sure there have been times when this song would sum up our opinions perfectly.
12. "Numb" - Numb offers a look at a young man overwhelmed by expectations of life. Still, there is a bit of humor to this song. One lyric says, "All this potential has messed up my whole day." Nonetheless, this is another of my not-quite-as-favorite songs.
13. "Please Don't Go" - Absolutely beautiful. Piano and lyrics work together to create a completely heartbreaking four and a half minutes. Just close your eyes, turn up your headphones, and let it sweep you away.
14. "Time to Mend" - A fitting ending to the album. The previous songs have encompassed a trying set of experiences for the "narrator," but, as this song shows, there is always time to mend. This is an uplifting and hopeful song, with a "night is darkest just before the dawn" idea.
Yes, this album is not an "If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands" listening experience. It is, at times, heartbreaking, and at others frustrated. It is the perfect album to listen to when you're down. Lay on your bed, and drift away into "Absolutes." It will provide a way for you to vent away all your negative feelings. Barcelona's debut album is a wonderful form of emotional release and I highly recommend it.
Here is their Myspace page if you'd like to hear some of their stuff! http://www.myspace.com/barcelona
Wow, old post
ReplyDeleteI love your summary here. This album is probably one of the few albums where I can actually say every song is fantastic. That is an incredible rarity. It is unfortunate that they haven't released anything since and that their name isn't that big.