Search - Aqueduct :: Or Give Me Death

Derivative but sturdy effort

Matthew T. Medlock | Cincinnati, OH | 02/12/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Aqueduct, the one-man band of David Terry (though he's added a few members this time out), has the makings of a surprisingly strong outfit, but its own derivation muddles the effort. It's clear where Terry's influences lie and he borrows tricks from plenty of different places.



It's possible to think, "well, shoot, everyone does that," but it's sometimes too awkward and obvious on "Or Give Me Death" to let pass by unnoticed. "Keep It Together" is a strange hybrid of Elton John and the Flaming Lips. He even does a Coyne-ish yelp pretty spot on--"Zero the Controls" and "Unavailable" is mimicry at its most obvious, severely damaging otherwise good songs. And "As You Wish" has to be a Beach Boys cover, right? Oh.



Part of the problem is that it can't live up to the strong opening: "Lying in the Bed I've Made" and "Living A Lie" are never topped. And there's a sluggish pace on the second half that has the listener itching for the skip button...even during the good songs! Sometimes the sound is a bit too inky with overkill flourishes and repeated rhythms, but it's never annoying. Whatever problems that Terry encounters, though, are pretty minor. Even if it may be a bit too slow, "Wasted Energy" succeeds on its own terms as a dawdling dirge with off-key vocals that ring of expasperation. While never potent or startling, he makes the listener take notice during the entire course of the record, actually offers a few insightful moments, and then disappears. If he had a more original sound, he may have truly had something, but then again that would have probably made it less accessible, something that Terry needs far too much right now.



Best cuts: "Lying in the Bed I've Made," "Living a Lie," "Unavailable," "Split the Difference," "Wasted Energy," "Keep It Together," "As You Wish," "You'll Get Yours""

When a good band becomes great.

Grandpa Green | Vancouver, B.C. | 03/06/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Aqueduct's last album, "I Sold Gold" was a really good genre bending rock album but their latest, "Or Give Me Death", is freaking great. Every promising moment on the aforementioned album has been fully realized and is presented as a real aural treat for pop rock lovers.



Amazon hits the nail on the head pretty close in its comparison to label-mates and likewise under-appreciated band the Long Winters but there are so many other layers of influence occurring simultaneously. There are moments that scream Brian Wilson, The Kinks, Of Montreal, The Flaming Lips, etc. Yet these influences never overshadow the originality of the Aqueduct sound and act more as a flavoring to an already delicious musical medley. Since picking up the album I have listened to the album twice a day and the song "Living a Lie" a ridiculous amount.



Anyways, how can you go wrong with an album that features a song consisting entirely of dialogue from the Princess Bride? Which song? I think you may be able to figure it out by the song title, and if not you really should be going to the video store ASAP.

"