Search - Waking Ashland :: Composure

Nothing flashy, just great music

Alexander Rabina | New Zealand | 08/20/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Waking Ashland's debut album is proof. Proof that you don't need to be virtuosos to make great music. Proof that simple chord progressions and the classic verse-chorus-bridge-chorus structure is effective when done well. Proof that you don't need layers upon layers of synthetic overproduction for something to sound good.



Unlike other bands that simply throw in classical instruments to make it sound 'artistic' or 'classical' or whatever, Waking Ashland is centered around the piano, with the others built around it. The result is solid, controlled, chord-based songs, and layered on top of that is some great singing and vocal harmonies, with guitar, bass and drums filling out the sound.



Whether it's the energetic songs such as "I Am For You", "Overjoyed" and "Longshot", the more laid back "Same Problem" or "October Skies", or the ballads "Hands on Deck" and "Sing Me To Sleep", you are guaranteed music that is well-crafted, catchy and honest.



I agree with Brendan Trimboli, for fans of Mae, This Day & Age, and other light rock bands, Waking Ashland is a perfect fit. Or for anyone looking for some relief from their diet of emocore/pop-punk/post-hardcore bands (as I am), Waking Ashland is a welcome contrast."

Great CD

arrows04 | NY | 05/23/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"this is a great cd by waking ashland. i didnt even know who they where until i looked at purevolume.com



1-Shades of Grey- 4/5 good opener Good song. pretty slow, good vocals

2-i am for you- 5/5 great song. great intro, good guitar playing, great vocals

3-rumors-5/5 third best song on the cd great piano playing, vocals great

4-edinger-5/5 second best song on the cd. if they have a single ever this will be the song

5-october skies 5/5 best song on the cd, again great piano playing, great guitar, amazing vocals

6-Let go- 4.5/5 overall good song. catchy tune

7-Hands on deck- 5/5 great vocals, great piano playing

8-long shot-5/5 great guitar playing, great vocals

9-silhouettes-5/5 catchy tune, great vocals and words

10-same problem-5/5 great song, slow intro catchy song

11-medication- 4/5 probably the worse song on the cd. its not even that bad just didnt get into this one

12-overjoyed- 4.5/5 slow intro, great vocals

13-sing me to sleep-5/5 great piano playing. great ending to an amazing cd



i can't believe no one has heard of these guys."

Ok ..a rating from someone who DOES listen to other types of

Barry E. Boltz | Oregon | 01/25/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Just playing SPOCKS BEARD "Snow". Today is my music day, the day I go through all my 1000's of CD and albums and play ones I haven't listened to in 20-30 years..you get the picture. I like good music..and I could name drop hundreds of groups that you've never "heard" about but are still good bands.(I HATE KIDS WHO DO THAT!) Anyway..My youngest daughter shared this with me a couple of months ago. I REALLY enjoy it. Is it Sgt. Peppers? No. Is it as ground breaking as "Love" was in the 60's? No. Is it GOOD music? 100% yes. A very tight band, great vocals with nice guitar. There is not one song I don't like..which is VERY unusal these days. If "Shades of Grey" was performed by Coldplay..it would have been top 10 material. Ok. I like these guys better than Mae..about the same as DC Talk..(Supernatural) better than all the boy bands. Do yourself a favor..buy this. It's 10 bucks and I promise you'll like at least SOME of the songs. Never stop listening to the music."