The NOrthwest Man - The

The Northwest Man

THE
awkwardcore; 2013

4.0 out of 5

By Eva Cantillo

Sometimes the sound of an entire band can be achieved through one well-produced musician. The Northwest Man might be an example of such talents because even though the album THE is put together mostly by one person, the sound and production is not lacking. The music of the album can be called dramatic new age blues, or experimental jazz rock. The most compelling asset of the album is the artist’s voice. It is somewhat reminiscent of sounds from bands like Wild Beasts, Bear in Heaven, and even The Black Keys. There is definitely a bluesy and slightly southern twang to the album.

The intro song “Sugar” really immerses you in the deep and expressive melodies that make up the album, as well as the artist’s intriguing and almost psychedelic voice. The second song “Spit” is an emotional yet epic track that is sultry with deep valleys of feelings. The melody is very rich and well structured and there is much sound to get lost in. 

The track “No One Will” has a hypnotic background synth beat that just keeps the track grooving along with an upbeat pace. The song “We Tried (Beat 2)” starts with an unexpected disco-esque beat and then dives into an ode to love. The lyrics of this song tell a very visual story that a listener can really experience. Listening to any story being sung by the vocalist is a story that one can easily fall in to.

Overall the lyrics of the album are something to enjoy, in combination with the interesting voice of the artist. This blend has the effect of taking the listener on an existential journey through rollercoasters of good and bad sentiments, yet all experiences are set against a breathtaking landscape. The production of the album as well is noteworthy as there was time put into both writing the songs as well as executing them. This is a great album for anyone who enjoys indie rock or experimental rock. 

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