Search - David Usher :: Hallucinations

Urgent Music

Lee Armstrong | Winterville, NC United States | 06/12/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"David Usher's 3rd solo CD builds on his previous two releases and is simply some of the most moving, brilliant music you will hear. Although darker and a bit more of a spark plug, it's Rufus Wainwright that he increasingly reminds me of with his experiment with melody and diverse instrumentation on the arrangements. On the opening title track he sings, "Standing on the top looking down, thought it'd be so damn easy," as the guitars fire with staccato breathiness in the bridge. Five of the tracks on the disc rate classic status, which is an incredible percentage of truly great tracks on any one non-greatest hits release. On "I'm Coming Down" David as a vocalist expresses such desperate discontent with normalcy as his voice hits the upper registers with an incredibly dramatic music, "I thought you should know that inside I've grown cold, and I fight every day to lose control." "Time of Our Lives" is currently #1 in my own personal top ten. From its opening line, "I once saw a man on fire staring out of his window," we hear the urgency of emotion that is a hallmark of classic Usher and the guitars chime like they were spark plugged from the Allman Brothers, "Who of us will tell what these dark days will bring?" It's a breathtaking track worth the price of the CD. "Message Home" has another startlingly original melody with Usher's piano creating urgency, "If we never try then we'll never take, If we never bend then we'll never break, if we stimulate & we sexualize, will we need it more." The guitars swirl like smoke up a chimney. Another breathtaking track. "Surfacing" is another amazing melody with lyric and vocal creating urgency followed by peace, "The picture perfect life is fading out of view & high above me I can feel the world, but I don't need it, I don't need it, I don't need it ... I just need you." The final hidden live track that's not listed is also incredible. I don't know what to call it other than the first few words of the lyric "Smells on the Air," "Caught in the rage & the fire of things, all the brightness that burns is fumbling through, like a child in the dark, when her nakedness comes, I'm shocked by the color, the glorious weight of your skin comes alive." Usher simply marries melody, lyric, arrangement, powerfully emotional singing, and sterling musicianship on a par with almost no other musician. This is music that is urgent, unique and unforgettable. Seek & you shall find! Bravo!"

Gotta love this!

Frank-Z | ON,CA | 12/07/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Yeah,another review about David Usher.The title track Hallucinations is the first track on the album as well as the opening song for his recent concert which I went to.It's really an aggressively sounding song!As for the rest,what I can say is great.It's well balanced!Too bad this record is currently underrated,hopefully as times goes on,it'll deserve more attention.Highly recommended!"

Another great album

Alise | Canada | 02/06/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"What I like about David Usher is that, while his albums are never quite the same, he is consistent. This new one is a great follow up to Morning Orbit. It's reflective and poignent. My favourites would have to be "I'm Coming Down", "In This Light" and "Message Home". I agree with others, though, that you may not think much of the album after hearing it a first time, but it just keeps getting better and better with every listen. This is an artist that you must listen to the entire album to really appreciate it."