Search - Hurt :: Vol. II

Hurt So Good

Andrew Estes | Maine | 10/09/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As the first modern rock band in a long time to refuse adhering to any formulas, Hurt made quite an impression with last year's "Vol. I.," only to follow it up rather swiftly and efficiently with the appropriately titled "Vol. II." Those who appreciated the first volume will be equally enthused by what the band has to offer the second time around. Without changing their sound much, while avoiding predictability, Hurt have shown that a band actually can grow in a year's time and put out a worthy release in such a short period. Fans of the band's semi-hit, "Rapture" will find the album's first single "Ten Ton Brick," along with "Et Al" and "Loded" to be instantly pleasing to the ears. Elsewhere, the band expands on it's abstract, somewhat-spacey, emotionally heavy material. "Abuse Of Sid" takes a topic -- domestic abuse -- that has been beat into the ground by countless bands, and finally does it justice, coming through as one of the boldest songs on the album. "Aftermath," one of the briefer of the album's 12 tracks, highlights frontman J. Loren's amazing vocal capacity and genuine emotion, while the band continues to dip into some trippy, classic-rock/Pink Floyd inspired pieces. "Talking To God," however, tops the rest of the album, as it rises and falls, from a whisper to a scream and shows all the band can do, wrapped into one song. Like the rest of Hurt's material, it's a song that starts off in one direction and ends in a totally different place. Constantly throwing curveballs and reinventing modern rock is Hurt's specialty. If Hurt are the next band to concur the rock world, an album like this is exactly what they need to accomplish that. "Vol. II" is, like it's predecessor, a masterpiece. Anyone familiar with the band by now will not walk away disappointed, and those looking for something refreshing and new will do themselves a bit of good to look into this album."

Skot

Skot | North Dakota | 09/26/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This album seems darker than their first, it is also a little harder. The songs seem to follow even less of a standard format when compared to Volume 1. There also seems to be a little more orchestra background. This album basically is volume 1 squared. I have only listened to it once so far but I do believe that this album will grow on me as the first one did. I LOVED the first album, and this follows the same unconventional style which is what separates Hurt from other rock bands. Try this album out!!!!"

Perfect companion piece for Vol. I

JBauerisGod | VA | 09/26/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Just as Vol. I leaves us with the sound of rain drops pattering the ground, Vol. II picks up in Summers Lost, with the ambient sound of the rain returning. If you were to listen to Vol. I and Vol. II in a continuous listening session, it's doubtful that you would ever notice that Vol. I ended and Vol. II started.



Vol. II is harder and darker than Vol. I, but with every hard piece, there is a gentle piece to go along with it for those people who don't like to here J. Loren scream.



It's difficult to sum up the album in one or two words, other than saying "it's phenomenal" or "it's beautiful". Instead of falling into the trap, Hurt was able to innovate once again with a new and unique sound for each and every song. When listening to the album, I wasn't saying to myself that 'this sounds like Rapture' or 'this is exactly like Falls Apart'.



The only negative thing I have to say about this album is that the older songs on the album, ones that appeared on The Consumation, lack the same emotion that their Consumation counterparts were filled with.



Other than that, Vol. II, like Vol. I, creates a nice neutral zone between mainstream and underground. Their songs are catchy enough to get radio play, but they don't sound like all of the songs preceding it."