on 2011-07-20 dscanland Said:

I'd have to agree. I didn't like Buckley at first but man, do his vocal abilities grow on you! Give him a few listens, his haunting rendition of "Hallelujah".
Not Rated

on 2011-07-20 hstisgod Said:

Wow, while I agree this album is very solid, Im going to disagree when you call Buckley's work mediocre... that's a bit harsh no? Great review of a classic album Chaz!
Not Rated

Review:

on 2011-07-20 CharlesMartel Said:

Mention the name of this band to people in the know and they will compare the voice of Jimmy Gnecco, the band's lead vocalist, to Jeff Buckley who, when the latter was alive, were friends and musical collaborators. Yes, there is a resemblance in the ability of both to scale octaves with their voices in dramatic leaps. But Gnecco's voice is slightly earthier while Buckley's has a pitch-perfect crystal clarity. That difference means that Gnecco's voice is far more soulful and emotional than Buckley's. But what amazes me is that, while Jeff Buckley has risen, in death, to superstar status, Jimmy Gnecco continues to languish among the who-the-fuck-is-he artists.

Ours is very much Jimmy Gnecco's project. Who the rest of the band are is largely irrelevant - this is his work. His influences on it are clearly identifiable, from Buckley's own work through U2 to a mixture of the darkness and sombreness of the Goths. As a result, it can come across at times as too derivative and lacking in originality. Above all, people will always, so it seems, compare Jimmy Gnecco with Jeff Buckley and, because of Buckley's untimely demise, Gnecco seems to come off the worse all the time.

That is a shame, because the songwriting on "Distorted Lullabies" is far stronger than anything on "Grace", and is not plagued by any second rate covers either. These are songs Gnecco writes and sings from the heart. As he soars and pleads his way through this album, and as you listen to the words as he sings them, lonely, powerful and mesmerizing. As you listen, you often forget that, behind him, lies a band, with guitars and percussion and bass. But all you can hear is that voice. My biggest gripe with the album, and what drags the ratings down, is that the music is not strong enough to complement the voice and make an impression of its own. It attempts to be a collection of four-minute soaring anthems to the human condition but all too often slumps into the overly melodramatic. Part of the blame for this lies at the feet of Jimmy Gnecco himself - whatever his vocal talents may be he is not the guitarist he thinks he is, or this album and these songs deserve.

Songs such as "Sometimes" and "Dizzy" are the undoubted highlights, but apart from the last track, "As I Wander", which is a quiet, acoustic and frankly rather dull effort, each track on the album has something to hold you. "Meet Me in the Tower" is a real grower however and is one track which improves substantially with repeated listens. Imagine a combination of Goth and prog without being either, and you can begin to imagine what the material sounds like. At many points it runs the risk of becoming maudlin, yet at each moment it threatens to dissolve into some suicide-pact emo, the songs are pulled back from the brink and live to be sung another day. Listening to it repeatedly does not do it justice. You need to put it away for a while and come back to it every now and again to truly begin to appreciate it.

If you like Jeff Buckley's work, you will be amazed by Ours. What I cannot understand is why Buckley's mediocre content has achieved more lasting fame than this album. There is much more here than Buckley ever promised, let alone achieved. There is, it would seem, nothing like a prematurely dead artist to elevate his status to heights greater than it would have warranted had he lived. This is something which Jimmy Gnecco will have to live with. A pity, I have no doubt, but I can recommend this to anyone who has a feel for something with potential.
Rating: 7/10

on 2008-04-11 hstisgod Said:

You sizuck!!! damn, I've already rated this too...gave it a 9 out of 10 I guess I took off points for prickish behavior
Not Rated