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Ours: Distorted Lullabies

Rob | NEW JERSEY | 05/21/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"An incredible CD is hard to come by these days. But OURS has succeeded in recording an amazing debut. It's hard not to notice a resemblance in Jimmy Gnecco's voice to such greats as Jeff Buckley, Thom Yorke, & Bono. And the songs on the album at times recall an early Radiohead, but nevertheless, a great song is just that and Jimmy sings them all with extreme emotion.OURS: DISTORTED LULLABIES, is a laid back album with catchy melodies and great musical textures. Highlights include: 'Dizzy', 'Dancing Alone' & 'Fallen Souls'. The album is full of amazing songs and it was the first single 'Sometimes' that grabbed my attention. Since then, I've had the opportunity of catching an acoustic show of the band. They are by far one of the better new bands out there. I just hope that more bands like this get the recognition they deserve."

Comparisons can be a compliment

Jeff Hodges | Denton, TX United States | 12/04/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Several years ago, this album was released with just enough hoopla to let you know that it was there if you were paying attention. You may have heard "Sometimes" on an indie radio show of some sort, but if you blinked you probably missed it. If you did it would be a crying shame. Distorted Lullabies is a fantastically well-written and melancholy trip through loneliness and isolation.



The indie radio show that introduced me to the project described Ours' sound as a cross between Jeff Buckley and Radiohead. Today I still think that this is a relatively apt description if one understands the difference between "The Bends" and "Hail to the Thief". "Distorted Lullabies" immediately recalls the euro-rock sound of early Radiohead and Coldplay, but also brings to mind the eerie feeling that Buckley is being somehow supernaturally channeled through lead singer and songwriter Jimmy Gnecco. To compare Gnecco to Buckley is obvious, but I would also like to throw in a healthy dose of Bono's tone with a little Freddie Mercury falsetto thrown in for flavor. Grown-up fans of the Cure and other depression-charged bands will no doubt be attracted to Ours.



However, Ours distinguishes themselves from their gloom-rock predecessors in the same way that Buckley did; with a wildly passionate delivery that transcends the immediate impression that the lyrics relate.



For example, several years ago, while on a tour of Europe with my family, I was feeling particularly uncomfortable with my American identity. In Germany, I left my hotel on a solitary walk with Ours on my discman and the phrase "Ein bier, bitte" on my lips. After taking a curious left turn I found myself in a beautifully wooded area on a solitary walk through what could have been Little Red Riding Hood's "Path of Nails." The track "Fallen Souls" screamed out to me in the woods that day in a way that I still cannot explain.



Even so, five stars is very difficult to hand out when comparing "Distorted Lullabies" to its influences. It really is a fantastic album, but it is not quite "The Joshua Tree", "Night at the Opera", or, even more immediately, Jeff Buckley' now-classic "Grace". However, fans of Gnecco's influences cannot help but be moved by his passion and conviction.



The lowdown: Like Phish was to the Grateful Dead, Jimmy Gnecco and Ours are the obvious heirs to Jeff Buckley's legacy. For those of us that miss him, Ours is a pretty good-tasting placebo, but is in no way to be confused with the real thing. If you already have "Grace", you will most likely come to tears over this recording.

"

Some moments but mostly unoriginal

Jeff Hodges | 07/14/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I live in NYC and saw these guys several times right before they got signed, didn't hear anything about them for about 2 years(!) and then saw them perform again with the release of their album. They are a fantastic live band. Jimmy is extremely charismatic and I can see why they got signed and why there was/is so much buzz about them. As an aside, let me just say, there is something just a little too groomed, too scripted, about this band. Every guy has the perfect "look." (I don't know if it's the Dreamworks' stylist or they just dress like they're in a fashion shoot on their own.) They had four roadies while playing The Mercury Lounge (which holds like 100 people!). I had this strange feeling that I was watching a performance by actors pretending to be rock stars, as opposed to watching people genuinely playing music. I don't doubt their sincerity, they just seem a little more interested in being rock stars than in being musicians. Everything from their look, to their actions, to the hushed awe of the industry heavy crowd, just seemed so scripted, so cliched. Which doesn't make them bad per-se, it just is what it is. Perhaps a little too much thought and planning went into the record and their marketing (what else was going on for 2 years?!)."Sometimes" is a brilliant single, especially the bridge which is sublime with its major chords and "sunshine" happy lyrics juxtaposed (sorry, had to use that word) with the minor chord, meloncholy of the rest of the song. In a just world a song like that would be all over the airwaves this summer instead of Staind or whatever garbage idiot sludge corporate nu-metal that's out there. Unfortunately, the rest of the album lacks the power and melodic or songwriting ability of "Sometimes." A lot of the music is good, it's never horrible, but once again just like when I saw them perform live, the record sounds good and even great at times, but feels as though these guys are actors pretending to be rock musicians. I feel like a jerk saying this because I don't doubt that Jimmy and Co. really do believe and FEEL their music but that "acted" vibe is the impression I am left with. If I was 15, I would be praying to the Ours alter, but I'm 26 and somehow it just doesn't click on that other level with me. With all this said, I would gladly hear these guys any day over 90 percent of the pop/rock that is out there but I can't help but want more."