A Blueprint for Writhing

I listen to a lot of music, it's what I like to do and it's why I write the reviews that I do, and while I listen to a lot of music I know very few of the bands that I listen to. Some people think I'm crazy because by not knowing the band and never hearing their music I risk the chance of not liking the songs. That's true, but it's also true that I will find a band that I will like and it's this risk that's worth taking. Still, there's that lingering thought of what if I don't like the music and when I heard the first part of the first song "All Beauty Fades" by One Less Reason I expected that this was going to be put into the not liking stack. A Blueprint for Writhing is the new album put out by One Less Reason where the first track starts off slow, boring, and a bit on the whinny side. Then out of nowhere the vocals kicked into overdrive with vocals that are fit for a good punk band, I was surprised.

One Less Reason seems to be doing with their music what most bands do or want to do, make their songs have a deep meaning. Seems like the lead vocals by Cris Brown, who wrote these songs, has had a rough life, or one that's been depressing. These songs seem sad to me, no matter what kind of energy and quick tempo he put into the songs, they are just songs with sad lyrics. The names of the songs should be enough to tell you what they are going to be like with such names as "All Beauty Fades", "The Wrong One", and "Uneasy. In fact the album title is another example of how this album is not about joyful music.

Sometimes I like sad music but for the most part I tend to stay away from it. Mainly because it is sad and when listening to sad music I need to already be sad, otherwise it will bring me down. Now aside from this mood this music puts me in while listening the songs are built well. Cris Brown might be a sad singer but his vocals are strong with enough emotion in them to carry the songs. There are two duets where the songs are just as emotional as the singles by Cris Brown. Though there are some well played instruments in the songs, it's the lyrics and vocals that is the center of these songs. I was not expecting such a sad set on this album, which only makes the last track all the more surprising when I heard a TV theme song being sung. Though this last song, short as it was, was a perfect way to end this album because as the lyrics are meant to inspire, this last track does help in boosting the depressing mood that the other 5 songs put me in.