Album Details

• Artist: An Angle
• Album: The Truth Is That You Are Alive
• Label: Drive-Thru
• Year of Release: 2007
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: hstisgod on 2007-05-27

It's a tedious task now-a-days to come up with an original sound.  With an artist name like An Angle, it's safe to say by their third album, The Truth Is That You Are Alive, a band from Drive-Thru would have come up with an angle.  While I wouldn't say this album reeks of unqiue writing, and sound, Truth is, An Angle has morphed into an upbeat quartet, and this album exemplifies that energy.

  After their 2004 debut LP, And Take It With A Grain Of Salt , I thought for certain these guys would have gone on to create some of the oddest Folk-Modern Rock.  It seems Kris Anaya and company have decided to take the soft road of pop rock. 

   Lets not get out the ruler wack just yet....A bit of diversity can be found in acoustic flavorings like track five Going To Heaven, which is a twangy little ditty.  Directly following is track six Child In Me, pleasing to those trying to find the neo Buddy Holly.  You know what I'm talking about, that layered acoustic-electric stringing and drop beat of drum roll. 

       Ghost In The Mirror settles into a style An Angle is very familiar with.  A progressive centering of upbeat Garage and organic Pop Rock. Then there's the experimental tracks like Red River that will understatedly take an acquired taste to enjoy its creativity. Without the traditionalistic instruments of rock, this song features only violins and a story backed by a choir like chorus.

          I'm Alright has a soppy but energetic 70's beer rock feel to it that inspires further investigation of this record. A feel good jam, with a simplistic feel, I'm Alright saves the pace of the disc with creative verse vocalizing, random electric blues spurts amongst the drums and keyboard work.

               Then there's the last two tracks of the album, On My Way and You Are Loved which differ in sounds so vehemently strayed from one another its difficult to end this review without a bow.  On My Way soars with a piano bar like vibe.  Strong in blues rythym (and solo's), and a vocal construction only comparable to the legendary Tom Petty.  Then there's the other side of the spectrum, You Are Loved, which rides that fine line between Dreamy Electronic Alternative (ie;Radiohead) and that emo thing.  Featuring additional female vocals really gives this song a sense of subtle stability.

       The lead single, Oh!Oh!Oh!, though titled with a tasteless lack of creativity, has a purist attraction after a few listens.  It's almost like An Angle is the next Monkees, singing that smiley yet hoppy pop rock.   After the not-so unusual addition of brass, and terrific vocal range of Anaya the track ends on a high note. 

  With the hands of time, a band always progresses, and sometimes their sound changes. This album will take a few listens to understand, but there's a unique artistic integrity on The Truth Is That You Are Alive.  An Angle is enjoying a nice maturation process. 3.25 stars rounded up.

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