You know what’s nice? Vibes. Throw some on an album and you have my attention…it’s a lock. And locked-in I was with the delightful “Brace Your Face,� the lead track on Some Echoes, the fourth album from the indie/prog/pop friendly quartet Aloha. This quartet has mastered the art of going from slow and steady to fast and furious in a heartbeat—all while staying focused on creating lush, pretty songs. This is more than evident on the before-mentioned six minute opus I was vibing on (pun intended…I shall not apologize.) Lead singer Tony Cavallario soothes you with his sad and tempered voice on “Ice Storming,� one of those curl-up-in-a-ball-and-feel-sorry-for-yourself (preferably on a rainy day) ditties. You’re then thrown into an epic avalanche of prog-inspired drumming and wailing guitar on “Summer Lawn�—trust me, it works… even in 2006. Though Some Echoes doesn't break new ground -- very few albums do nowadays -- it does give you ten masterfully written and produced songs that definitely deserve your attention.
(Date of release: April 11, 2006)
