Wow, what can I say? This album really surprised me. I heard this album before reading any of the reviews. All I really read was the bio and sure it sort of said that this album was different from their Deep Elm debut album "Calendar", but I didn't expect it to be this different.
"Calendar" has more of an aggressive post-punk feel, while this new album is more like a beautifully orchestrated emo-rock ballad album. Most of the songs are slow to mid paced (although a few times they do rock a little) yet they totally grab your attention just as well, if not better than the songs on "Calendar". Most of the songs come across as being very intricate well thought out songs with passionately heart felt lyrics. While looking over the album artwork and credits I noticed that this album was recorded between August 1998 and February 1999. This just proved my original feeling that this album was well thought out. These guys didn't just throw this one together.
So far this is definitely one of the best albums put out this year in the whole indie rock, emo genre. There are not many bands in the genre that have attempted to write and record an album this well orchestrated. On this release you will hear an organ, keyboard, and piano as well as your typical guitar (even slide guitar at various points throughout the album), drum, and bass. The thing is they don't just use the piano or organ during the intro and closing to some of their songs but they throw it in throughout quite a few of the songs. I would compare the creativity and depth in this album to some of the later Beatles and Beach Boys recordings.
My favorite song on the album is the melancholy ballad, "When the Light in My Heart Is Out". Just check out the chorus to this song "when you look in my eyes and they're empty, when my mouths speaking empty words, when you sense there is nobody in here can you promise to disturb, when I don't tell you how much I love you, when the light in my heart is out, when you feel there is no one to reach me, can you promise to not doubt...Four hours light this is not the time of year to feel very bright (remember they live in Sweden), God help me cry it is what I need right now I don't wanna hide".
There is not much else I can really say about this album other than if you're a fan of well thought out and creative music go grab a copy of this release and check it out. If you don't then you're gonna miss out on what is probably going to be one of the best releases of the year 2000.
A-
Other coverage for this album
Decapolis 2000Reviewed by ConradI'm going to have a hard time classifying this album. But whatever weird name I give it - it's good. I guess we'll start with - It's based in rock. The level of creativity surpasses most every one of the albums that have crossed our desks. The vocal melodies are certainly traditional enough - but their use of their long instrumental sections and creative song arrangement really enhances every…Decapolis 2000Reviewed by Jim ShadyI guess that I don't follow the hype with this album. I have read other reviews (not necessarily on this site) in which the group was praised for its musical complexity, originality, and lyrics and I agree with all of these. However, the sound doesn't do it for me. "Four Hours Light" deviates from some of their older material in that it is more carefully calculated and constructed. It is also a…Similar sounding releases
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