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Orson - Culture Vultures
Yeah Yeah, I know they’re not the typical guitar orientated stuff that we normally have at AOG, but hear me out. I have mentioned this before and I will again, but if there ain’t no song, it’s all for shit. Twiddle away with as many tri-biphonic semi-inverted plu-morphic mode-shift derivatives as you like, but that is just sport.
Mozart, The Beatles, The Stones, The Eagles, Bruce Springsteen, Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, Bon Jovi, Oasis, Maroon 5, Fall Out Boy and Orson all share the not-so-common art of ‘song-craft’. They also share huge amounts of success. By all means please throw in some ‘sport’ but pop and Rock music is ultimately about the song. I love songs and I love guitar virtuosity, but mixing the two is definitely an art. Most of the AOG faithful are deeply inspired by virtuosity and quite rightly, but the more this talent is crafted into commercial music the better we all know it will be.
Anyway, Orson aren’t particularly virtuosos but their latest effort ‘Culture Vultures’ is somehow as excellent as their previous multi-award winning ‘Bright Idea’. They are fleetingly Rock, a bit indie, a touch reggae, very pop, big on soul and wonderfully colourful. Their Beach Boy harmonies and witty lyrics all add to an exceptional song-craft. If someone somehow can successfully combine this approach with some shred guitar, then it will become a certified necessity in the pop arena and the AOG faithful win.
There are no fillers on Orson albums and the real beauties on Culture Vultures are the obvious hits ‘Radio’ and ‘Ain’t No Party’, the excellent ‘Debbie’s Gone’ and ‘Little Miss Lost & Found’, the sublime ‘Where You Are’ and the wondrous ‘Broken Watch’ and ‘Northern Girl’. At a sensible 42 minutes, the album feels complete and tidy with no room for tripe. If they were a bit younger and not quite so odd, they would be as big as Fall Out Boy and Maroon 5 combined, but that said they are doing just fine anyway.
And remember, if you’re not convinced, there’s a good chance that your girlfriend will love it – so money well spent and way cheaper than shoes.
Like This? Try…
Maroon 5 (but not as sterile)
The Killers (but better)
Taxiride (for the harmonies)
Jellyfish (for the harmonies and wit)
The Beach Boys (for the harmonies)
Gilbert & Sullivan (for song-craft)
Electric Six (well, the last track)
Mozart, The Beatles, The Stones, The Eagles, Bruce Springsteen, Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, Bon Jovi, Oasis, Maroon 5, Fall Out Boy and Orson all share the not-so-common art of ‘song-craft’. They also share huge amounts of success. By all means please throw in some ‘sport’ but pop and Rock music is ultimately about the song. I love songs and I love guitar virtuosity, but mixing the two is definitely an art. Most of the AOG faithful are deeply inspired by virtuosity and quite rightly, but the more this talent is crafted into commercial music the better we all know it will be.
Anyway, Orson aren’t particularly virtuosos but their latest effort ‘Culture Vultures’ is somehow as excellent as their previous multi-award winning ‘Bright Idea’. They are fleetingly Rock, a bit indie, a touch reggae, very pop, big on soul and wonderfully colourful. Their Beach Boy harmonies and witty lyrics all add to an exceptional song-craft. If someone somehow can successfully combine this approach with some shred guitar, then it will become a certified necessity in the pop arena and the AOG faithful win.
There are no fillers on Orson albums and the real beauties on Culture Vultures are the obvious hits ‘Radio’ and ‘Ain’t No Party’, the excellent ‘Debbie’s Gone’ and ‘Little Miss Lost & Found’, the sublime ‘Where You Are’ and the wondrous ‘Broken Watch’ and ‘Northern Girl’. At a sensible 42 minutes, the album feels complete and tidy with no room for tripe. If they were a bit younger and not quite so odd, they would be as big as Fall Out Boy and Maroon 5 combined, but that said they are doing just fine anyway.
And remember, if you’re not convinced, there’s a good chance that your girlfriend will love it – so money well spent and way cheaper than shoes.
Like This? Try…
Maroon 5 (but not as sterile)
The Killers (but better)
Taxiride (for the harmonies)
Jellyfish (for the harmonies and wit)
The Beach Boys (for the harmonies)
Gilbert & Sullivan (for song-craft)
Electric Six (well, the last track)