Search - Vermont :: Calling Albany

Vermont: How To Wear Your Heart On Your Album Sleeve

10/15/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Pop quiz: What does the word "rewarding" mean when used in the context of a music review? Give up? Well, don't fret, because Vermont has made an album that perfectly illustrates that amorphous principle. The casual listener is unlikely to find Vermont's music charming or catchy on the initial run-through, supposing he even makes it that far. Unfortunate, as it is clear that the casual listener is really who this disc is for. And while reviewers who have panned the first two albums from the Promise Ring/ Pele side-project Vermont point to its stripped-down, low-energy approach as weaknesses - with the major criticism being that the songs on Calling Albany aren't genre-bending explorations into new sonic territory - they have completely missed the point. These songs are just that: songs. Vermont isn't hiding anything. There are no secret hand-shakes or subliminal messages. Davey von Bohlen's relaxed-fit vocals coupled with his hurtin'-for-certain lyrics are the perfect combination of sad and accepting. Lines like "I never got much relief from sharing my grief" (from the title track) are intended to be taken at face value -- bare, blunt, and respectfully empathetic. Introspection at its most extroverted. Anyone looking for something deeper and more cryptic should get in line for the new Tool or Sparklehorse records. This disc is soft, it's sensitive, and (gasp) honest, a fact that will likely keep its shelf-life short and dusty, as von Bohlen perfectly illustrates on "The Ballad of Larry Bird," one of the album's more outstanding tracks: "I'm a straight shooter, but you don't care." Sad, because like a new aquaintance that becomes a fast friend, Calling Albany is ultimately infectious, lovable and painfully accessible. And the truth is: that pain is the beautiful part. Give it a shot. Or two."

Nice work.

Jan M. Potter | Asheville, NC USA | 11/05/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Wow, I was really stunned by this album. I was never a big promise ring fan, and naturally, I was expecting your typical side-project (which usually is not much different from what most side-projects claim to stray from) But this is just a well-rounded, beautiful work. VonBohlen's voice has an early Tom Petty-esque quality to it. Very intimate and soothing. Trust me, as someone who is just flat-out tired with all the bad music that gets lumped in with the "emo" genre, this is a welcome breath of fresh air."

Mellow, honest, and most of all beautiful

Rob Byrd | Wyoming, Ohio United States | 02/23/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I guess I could sum up the feeling of this cd as refreshing, relaxing, honest, peaceful and beautiful. If i had to compare this cd to anything itd be the acoustic-ness of wood/water. The softer more mellow songs, however it is far from promise ring and it does have a very original sound of its own, with the exception of course of daveys vocals. so glad i bought this cd it really does deserve 5 stars"