sorry, no stream this time

Typically when I think of music from Ireland, all I can picture is Flogging Molly and wrongfully Dropkick Murphys, but here comes Hozier to show us that the little island has something going for it besides Dave King and naming the wonderful cocktail known as the Irish Car Bomb. With eight tracks from his previous EP's, only seven song of the album are new from the studio, but that doesn't make this full length debut any less impressive.

Take me to church...  is the perfect combination of cliche, annoying, and linguistically beautiful word choices that just creates a chart topping track that you can't help but enjoy, and many have enjoyed it since the EP came out last year. That's kind of why I feel like it's the wrong song to open up on, especially to go into another track from the same EP, but since Angel is an awesome track that really showcases some amazing lyrics, I can't really complain. Now we get to hear something new, and a little jazzy. Jackie and Wilson is easily a contender for best song on the album, which leaves the following two tracks feeling slightly hollow in comparison, though the guitar in To be Alone amazingly reminds me of Muddy Waters. Holy shit, can this boy sing the blues.

Back to the full band sound comes the spring single From Eden, a quaint, enjoyable, but not all to memorable indie/blues track that gives way to the wonderful voice of upcoming North Irish Singer/songwriter/cello playing chick, Alana Henderson on In a Week. It's a really pretty song, once again displaying Hozier's lyrical talents over simple, bluesy/folky guitar playing.  Now, after that slowdown, and despite it's name, things begin to pick up again with another new track. Sedated is definitely top three material. It starts mellow enough to make you anticipate the rise, and when it happens, it's pretty damn cool. Sedated brings up right into Work Song from his spring EP, which slows things down again for the rest of the album, which ends on a lovely track from the Take me to Church EP,  Cherry Wine.

I have to say, if this dude's shows didn't sell out a month in advance, and I knew more about him before now, I'd totally be purchasing tickets for his Philly show in November right now. Hozier just brings out the classic elements of the blues in ways that I haven't heard in quite a while while still producing a modern feel to his music. It's refreshing to hear the more 50's sound of the blues, you know, without overdrive and ten minute guitar solos that all sound the same because every song is written in a I IV V patten in the key of A.  This guy's quite the wordsmith and poet as well. I'm definitely going to be picking this up tomorow when it drops in stores here, I'd recommend it for anyone who enjoys Bon Iver, The Lumineers, or artists of the classic time of Muddy Waters and B.B. King.

And shit, he's sold out for a Philly gig in March already too... 

Listened to it.

I like it. It's hard to get introduced to good new music these days.

That's kind of why I want to do these. There's a lot of good music out there being made as we speak, but it just takes a little more effort than flicking on the radio to find. Not only can I share it with others, but I'm finding new artists myself.

Glad you liked this one though.

I haven't listened to him much, but I heard him a little at Electric Picnic. I'll give him a shot.
Hmm blues, you say? But aren't you the guy who said Fleetwood Mac sucked?

Nonsense!
>.>
<.<

I just called them Dadrock...

Quote from: DAS B00T x2 on October 07, 2014, 12:27:10 PM

Quote from: Zizzy on October 07, 2014, 11:40:26 AM

I haven't listened to him much, but I heard him a little at Electric Picnic. I'll give him a shot.
Hmm blues, you say? But aren't you the guy who said Fleetwood Mac sucked?

Nonsense!
>.>
<.<

I just called them Dadrock...

I take that as an insult!
Although... you could be referring to the more famous 'Mac, the guys that released the "Rumours" album. The earliest iteration was a completely different band with Peter Green, one of the best blues musicians of all time.

Let's put it this way: I'm not overly fond of Stevie Nicks onward.