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Morning Rise:
 The Vibes

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The Vibes keep chugging along, I've recently been listening to their first studio made album Morning Rise and feel like I can asses the merits of the songs on said album.  I had an earlier studio made demo that contained acoustic version of a few of the songs on Morning Rise, but a majority of the songs were new to me. 

Lets start with the physical album:  Morning Rise is presented in a standard CD case.  The front cover photo is striking, an old organ burning out in a field.  Someone made the creative decision to invert the colors, a decision I wouldn't have made, I think the image would have faired better with less obvious color tweaking, that being said it is still a cool image. the outside jacket has a cool picture of all the band standing out in a green field, I like this one.  The inside jacket has a photo of the band playing a nightime show, I think that any other photo would have worked better here, it is just hard to see anything.  Back cover has the same image as front cover, but also has songs listed.  The CD even has the burning organ, they must like that image.  The artwork is a little repetitive but overall the presentation is very professional for a bands first self made album

Now on the the songs. 

Track 1.  Intro, nice little diddy to warm you up to the vibes sound.  Basically a nice instrumental but way to long.

Track 2.  Once or Twice Bang this song grabbed my ears like a steel trap.  As soon as Matt's voice comes on saying "tell me once or twice I was sold on this song.  It sounded so much like Liam Gallagher that I thought they had sampled his voice.  The song is tight, not to long, has good lyrics and music.  Awesome use of harmony when the band back up sings.  The perfect song for the Vibes and especially Matt's voice.

Track 3.  Stay, Heard this one as an acoustic so I was familiar with it, think it is pretty good electric.  Another deep, song with a lyric that says, "Maybe we could choose to believe in what we don't believe."  Nice meaty song.  Good solos behind a solid rhythm

Track 4. Make Me Free, this track didn't make much of a impact on me, it's the albums token slow song, not a horrible song, on repeat listening I really love the acoustic guitar solos, and all the guitar work.  At times it seems to have a little to much drum.  Matt's voice doesn't seem to work on this song as well.  The keyboards really work in this song, the electric guitar solo is great but may be a little to much for this one. 

Track 5 Morning Rise, A song I hadn't heard before.  Really great catchy chorus  Drums work great in this song, Rhythm seems a little repetitive.  I think there is a hint of a repeating keyboard note during the chorus that rocks,  would have been even better with a cowbell, think fear the reaper!'

Track 6 Somebody, By far the best song on the album, this one rocks, heaviest song on album, darker tone then other songs.  Lyrics work so well because they are so visceral they paint pictures in the mind.  This one was good as an acoustic, but better as an electric song.  This and Once or Twice and Morning Rise ought to be the songs that vibes are playing for people. 

Track 7 Falling Castles, "Black is white, white is grey"  again Matt's voice sings these words in such a way that they take a stronger meaning.  A very good song,

Track 8 Back Again, Very effective use of the snare drum, really like the way Matt hold notes on this one.  "My thoughts are Hazy and they process slow"  This ends up to be one of the most distinct songs on the album because of the use of the snare drum.  really like the way the electric solo cuts out and leaving a few bars of rhythm, then an electric hum. 

Track 9 Outro, essentialy a thick beat for Matt to play some Hendrixesc solos for a few minutes, by far the heaviest most rocking track on the album.  I think this track is really wasted as an outro.  Since most people aren't going to actually listen to it.

Hidden Track, New Years Revolution, cool little hidden track with an intentional rough feel to it. Should have been a full fledged song, additional singer is cool touch. 

general critique:  One of my first thoughts was that they needs a few more varied songs on the album, the hidden track would have been a great last song, a lighter acoustic that feels like a couple of guys just singing a song, a great way to end an album. 

Would definitely like to hear more variation in percussion  like on back again, but different sounds too, like throw in some bongos somewhere, cow bell, tambourine.  One or two harder rocking songs, essentially the Outro expanded into a song. 

Keyboard: more variety and just more of it. 

I really like the deep songs but some less thought provoking songs would be good too, think Cigarettes and alcohol by Oasis. 

A lot of the lyrics really lend them selves to acoustics, and I really like a plain and simple acoustic song with good lyrics.  

Would have liked more songs, even if one was a cover, I see no reason why a band can't toss a cover out now and again to pay homage to their influences and attract fans of that particular music.  Of course a band doesn't want to get in the situation of becoming a cover band, but with the song writing talent of the vibes I don't see that happening. 

I look forward to the next album and now that i know there songs better live performances