The Dear & Departed- Every Waking Moment
Review By Jen Windland
It's 1:11 a.m. and to finish out my hectic night, I needed something new to listen to. Enter The Dear and Departed and their new album, Every Waking Moment. What caught me in the music was the fusion of different sounds into one. I recognized other bands as I listened through but my mind drew a blank when I searched for names; it was a seamless blending of the alternative sound.
It's been a few years before these California boys have released a full length album but it was well worth the wait. Getting a good start right off the bat and running with it throughout the album, the lyrics are capturing and the sound is dance-envoking. Unique is a word too overly used when it comes to my reviews and these guys are on a different level. I truly haven't heard anything quite like them. Or maybe I've heard the different elements so much that it seems new to hear them simultaneously. 'It's Not What You Think' was up beat and catchy while further into the album I fell in love with track five, 'Air Supply'. That's when The Dear and Departed really sucked me in. The lyrics were cute and singable while the music carrying the song was a little darker than one would expect. I loved every aspect of it.
The next song, 'Landslide', slows the album down a little but track seven, 'Miles Away', gets the mood right back up to where it should be - back on track with the lyrics that speak to the listener and the clearly singable tune. The rest of the album follow suit and keeps the mood in the higher atmosphere - a decision I agree with, as anything slow would not only turn me off of the album itself but also put me to sleep. 'Depth or Desperation' is the kind of song I could jam to with my best friend and belt out at the top of my lungs, while the final track on Every Waking Moment starts off disappointingly slow. This album ends on a more reflective note after providing listeners with lyrics and music that are provoking (take that as you will). Over all, not bad. A good way to end the night.
Every Waking Moment is now streaming in full on the band's Facebook page and hits stores tomorrow, November 8th.
It's been a few years before these California boys have released a full length album but it was well worth the wait. Getting a good start right off the bat and running with it throughout the album, the lyrics are capturing and the sound is dance-envoking. Unique is a word too overly used when it comes to my reviews and these guys are on a different level. I truly haven't heard anything quite like them. Or maybe I've heard the different elements so much that it seems new to hear them simultaneously. 'It's Not What You Think' was up beat and catchy while further into the album I fell in love with track five, 'Air Supply'. That's when The Dear and Departed really sucked me in. The lyrics were cute and singable while the music carrying the song was a little darker than one would expect. I loved every aspect of it.
The next song, 'Landslide', slows the album down a little but track seven, 'Miles Away', gets the mood right back up to where it should be - back on track with the lyrics that speak to the listener and the clearly singable tune. The rest of the album follow suit and keeps the mood in the higher atmosphere - a decision I agree with, as anything slow would not only turn me off of the album itself but also put me to sleep. 'Depth or Desperation' is the kind of song I could jam to with my best friend and belt out at the top of my lungs, while the final track on Every Waking Moment starts off disappointingly slow. This album ends on a more reflective note after providing listeners with lyrics and music that are provoking (take that as you will). Over all, not bad. A good way to end the night.