This is like some sort of Belle & Sebastian.. mixed with Classical. It's Indie Pop, it's a little striking, his vocals are a little strong in places. I don't think he's a great vocalist, but the music is very very interesting. I'm liking this Pop outlook to this album, 'The Opposite of Hallelujah' has a nice piano sound with the strings found commonly on Indie Pop albums. I can see the similarities to Belle & Sebastian, that's obvious, Belle & Sebastian are the essential Indie Pop act of the 90's. They re bound to have a major influence on today's acts.
The songs here are strong, lyrically as well as musically. Songs trickle on, with chimes and bells thrown in from all directions. It's much alike a Badly Drawn Boy album. 'Shirin' is one of my picks, iIenjoy the vocal and lyrics here. the song structure moves the song forward. Soulful in places, this album manages to create that blend between Indie Pop and Classical music, it's a fine line between Classical and just the use of strings. They're heavily used here, to great use.
The Sufjan Stevens like final track is a key track that stands out from the rest, with the fantastic riff played on brass. His vocals a constant rhythm, with lyrics that flow decently.
The tracks are oh so similar, that's expected. But they're at different tempos and they have different styles. Really enjoyed the listen, will be returning to this album, mainly because of the brilliant instrumentation.
~Eddie
8.2