Or Give Me Death [Aqueduct]

I really wanted to start my blog career with this album.  Why?  Well, it really is the embodiment of "Indie" music.  Don't worry, I'll explain what I mean.

Basic info:

Album: Or Give Me Death

Artist: Aqueduct

Release Date:  February 20th, 2007

Release Number: 2nd Full Length Album

Track Number: 12 tracks

Album Length: 41:54

Price (Amazon): $13.98

Genre: Indie

Band Bio:  

The "Band" is really just singer/songwriter David Terry, but don't be fooled into thinking that this means he's another John Mayer, sitting around and whining on a guitar in the back of a coffee shop.  David Terry is a self-produced artist and accomplishes some insane layering of his own voice, several instruments, and some noises that are of questionable origin all on his own.  The exact method of the album's creation is largely a mystery, but that's the magic of it and the reason that it is such a perfect example of the indie trend; David Terry truly is independent of the music machine, free from the large scale production that populates top-40 radio stations.  My immediate connection when thinking of David Terry is the grunge/garage-rock band "Bomb The Music Industry!", who similarly creates (and also distributes for free) all of their music on their own.  If you're familiar with BTMI, then think of Aqueduct as the mellow, indie rock version of that concept.

Album:  

It's really a fun album.  It's easy to be skeptical of some of the sounds you hear (No those aren't the aliens coming to give you an anal probe It's actually just the backup on the track "Zero The Controls"), but if you give it a chance, it grows on you pretty fast.  And at least its not something you've heard before.  If nothing else, it's definitely original.

And the originality doesn't fade as you continue to listen to the album.  Each new track has something that you never expected.  From the lazy horn intro on "As You Wish" to the, possibly synthesized, accordion and string section that plays elegantly through all of "Wasted Energy", if you keep your ears open, there's plenty of treats to be had.  

But I'm getting carried away.  The album isn't all craziness.  It's all based on solid, catchy guitar and piano riffs that you'll be humming in your head all day.  And that's what you want in music, isn't it?  Something that sounds so good you just can't forget it.

And then there's always lyrics.  Lyrics can make or break a good song.  Fortunately, David Terry has a fair gift for both music and poetry.  Even better is the way that the music and words mix together so seamlessly.  "If only for tonight/ I beg you for my life/ You see I must survive/ I'll probably kill you in the morning" just sounds ridiculous without the context of the music, but I promise, you'll be skipping down the street singing it to yourself in no time, attracting strange looks from men, women, and children alike.

Ratings (Out of 10):

Music:  8.1

Lyrics:  8.5

Originality:  8.6

Bang for your Buck: 7.8

Indie-Cred (Obscurity): 8.0

Total Score: 8.20/10

Previews (30 seconds):

Keep It Together
As You Wish
Zero The Controls
Wasted Energy

Buy This Album