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Rating: The Hard Rockers J. Loren and Evan Johns met after Johns' producer father, Andy, listened to a Loren demo and was intrigued by the singer's voice. Once he heard that Loren was looking for a drummer, Andy Johns encouraged the two young musicians to connect. After spending some time rehearsing together, they decided that their relationship would continue. Soon, guitarist Paul Spatola and bassist Joshua Ansley joined them (Loren also plays guitar and violin, while Johns adds piano) and thus the band Hurt was complete.
A sinister name (Hurt) for this band, just as peculiar as it is intriguing, hailing from the States (N.J.). The album's entirely black cover (excluding, of course, the band's and album's name) immediately suggests something deep or, in any case, hard to decipher (the root of hurt, understood as existential discomfort), and indeed, it fully describes the essence of this musical offering.
The eleven tracks that make up "Volume 1" are a concentrate of various styles: Emo, Prog, Grunge, with influences from prominent bands (Tool, Alice in Chains, Metallica), which might seem like a crafted way to win over a large audience, but the overall result is decent, and the quartet's synergy homogenizes the work, making it smooth and enjoyable throughout. Each song conveys strong sensations in a mix of extremes, declines, and bursts on the wave of flattened, heavy guitars, acoustic strumming, electric chaos, whispered voices, guttural screams, and harmonies that gently restore calm. Shorter songs also play on multi-segmented parts that give a fleeting sensation, constantly engaging the listener. Everything is well balanced; there are no rushed or overly lengthy parts. The only flaw (at least, despicable to some) is the ambiguity and peculiarity that pervades the entire work like a wound, but this very dark sensation serves as a winning weapon to satisfy many ears that might cling to the speakers.
The album opens with Shallow, immediately showcasing Loren's vocal depth as well as the introspective and confessional nature that characterizes the CD. The second track is Rapture (for which a recommended viewing video was made), a song rich in pathos that steadily rises in tone. Then it moves from the nostalgic Overdose and Falls Apart to a more driven song like Forever, in Losing the presence of violin and wind instruments is noted, with Unkind, Dirty, and Danse Russe the contrast between agitated and calm tones is revisited. Also noteworthy are the acoustic Cold Inside and the concluding House Carpenter with its prog features, concluding the artistic apotheosis of the Yankees.
This is a record for everyone and no one, good for those who are not misled by the apparent commerciality of the offering and not recommended for those looking for an immediate, superficial, throwaway product. A record that is studied but also spontaneous, as simple as it is refined, that wishes to be listened to and understood, a stone thrown into the deepest darkness that might just hit you.
I'm not sure if I’ve been clear enough, but the CD will certainly satisfy you more than my review.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Shallow (03:50)
You're watching the cars, movies and stars
They are your lifetime...
Yet all that I am is half what we are
Maybe some other time
I'll get it right
I'll get it right
Oh sweet voice on the phone
You sound so alone
'Cause you couldn't be wasted
Yet all that I ever was
To you I am
I'm less than a man
That slowly changes out of phase
And I don't know why it is
Its an ever changing simple thing that I miss...
While watching TV take in what you say
So you're death is painless
When all that I ever was returns again
I'm all that I am
And I'll get it right
When I get it right
'Cause I'll get it right
When I get it right
But I'm slowly changing out of phase
And I don't know why it is
It's an ever-changing simple thing that I know
But don't know why it is
That I'm longing for a sweet embrace, which I miss
02 Rapture (05:40)
In the life of the wrong a love lingered on,
Love lingered on to frustration.
And if our love is so wrong, what should we do alone?
Or am I just a picture in a photograph?
Why are we stuck in this pantomime fearing a god who died?
One who would not deny lovers?
And I don't care what they say, if what you need is your faith,
Then take a look at my face and know
That till your rapture falls to pieces
Until your rapture falls to pieces
Find in me the room to breathe,
Simple things like suffering
Life had gone this way
Life is gone this way
Still in the life of the wrong we all moved along
Another life evolved to gestation
And so we made our way with the mistake we made
But she was just a picture in the photograph
So she walked in the baby's room
Knowing what she should do leave me in
Absolute horror
She put her hand on its lip she gave it
One last kiss
And some tune that went
Until your rapture falls to pieces
Till your rapture falls to pieces
Find in me the room to breathe,
Simple things are suffering
And I would and I would, destroy your god
Yes I would if I could destroy your god
Because you're born again
Until you're worn again,
Till your rapture falls to pieces
Till your rapture falls to pieces
Find in me the room to breathe,
Sinful things are suffering
Till your rapture falls to pieces
Till your rapture falls to pieces
But, if this must be, then burn with me
Anything
Just don't leave
So find in me the room to breathe
Sinful things are suffering
Till your rapture falls to pieces
She swore she heard the voice of jesus
Telling her it was wrong to keep it
And one more thing, it looked like me
Back when it breathed
Rest in peace
Until the rapture comes to meet us
03 Overdose (06:37)
I'll take one cause
I needed to feel it so much
I had an emotional crutch, but
I'm feeling bored
So I'll take some more
'Cause nothing is happening
And once you
Told me you loved me so much
I foolishly began to trust, but
Now I'm ignored
And I'm taking more
Till something is happening
I'll take one cause
I needed to feel it so much
I needed that thing we call fun, but
Now I'm ignored
And I'll take some more
Till something is happening
Cause once I
Thought you were right here with me, so
Maybe I'll take two or three
Until I believe
That what I have seen
Is really happening
Morpheus!
How could you leave me when I had need of your love?
Stop holding back!
Give me one reason to think you're decent
When I am
Alone
Don't you ever try to bring me back
With this one I
Needed to feel you so much
I wantingly longed for your touch, but
Now I'm ignored
And I'm feeling bored
Till something is happening
Because once I
Thought you were right here with me, so
Maybe I should take two or three
Until I believe
What I have seen
Is really happening
With this one I
Needed to feel you so much
I needed that thing we call fun, but
Now I'm ignored
And I'm feeling bored
Till something is happening
And once I
Thought you were right here with me, so
Maybe I'll take two or three
Until I believe
That what I have seen
Is really happening
No no more
Oh Morpheus
Why did you leave me when I had need of your love?!
No holding back now!
Give me the real thing
I've got a reason
When I am
Alone
Don't you ever try to take me back
04 Falls Apart (04:41)
I messed up again when I tried
You spend all your money and I...
And, oh! by the way
With all you did nothing has changed
So lie like a waste by the side
As everything just falls apart
'Cause everything just fell apart for me
I cracked my head and broke my
I cracked my head and broke my
I cracked my head and broke my heart
And I don't feel the need to go on
I was happier singing along the way
I had things I needed to say
But now it's like a swallowed tape
That holds up my face from inside
as everything just falls apart
'Cause everything just fell apart for me
I cracked my head and broke my
I cracked my head and broke my
I cracked my head and broke my heart
So woe is me, yeah
Oh woe is me, yeah
Woe is me, yeah
It all fell apart
I cracked my head and broke my
I cracked my head and broke my
I cracked my head and broke my heart
And the hell of it is what we are
We finish and wish we could start again
Our skin tears away as our memories fade with age
And we don't even know 'til its gone...gone...gone
But everything just fell apart
'Cause everything just falls apart for me
I cracked my head and broke my
I cracked my head and broke my
I cracked my head and broke my heart
So woe is me
It all falls apart you see
So woe is me, yeah
It all fell apart
I cracked my head and broke my
I cracked my head and broke my
I cracked my head and broke my heart
Everything just comes down
It falls around me cause, well...
Everything just falls uhhhh...
So woe is me
It all falls apart you see
So woe is me, yeah
It all fell apart
But I cracked my head and broke my
I cracked my head and broke my
Everything just falls a...
05 Forever (03:34)
There is no safe place for me to hide
Theres no safe place for me, too tired
There is no safe place for me to hide
Theres no safe place for me...
It always hurts when it's someone you love
Wont you rise above
There's a price in blood
It always hurts when it's someone you love
Wont you rise above
There's a price in love
There is no safe place for me to hide
There's no safe place for me, i'm so tired
There is no safe place for me to hide
Theres no safe place for me
I'm tired
So tell me a story about your life
I don't mind, I don't mind
Wont you tell me?- that will be just fine.
I don't mind, ilde mind.
Singin' songs about the 'ald lang zine'
I don't mind, I don't mind...
(Forever)
Wont you lend me your sins against you
For every thing I understand
One thousand more won't comprehend (Forever)
It always hurts when its someone you love
Wont you rise, rise above
(Forever)
It always hurts when it's someone you love
Wont you rise above
There's a price in blood
I see the car that your mom keeps sending, when I breathe it feels just like my life is ending. I think of the one that I most respected and all the words that I'm now regretting.
Id hold them now, but i'm bruised and beaten and I'm alone and I've barely eaten.
And it seems just like the way it goes that down the road we may have known about the love in both of us we push and shove, betray the trust, don't let this make a fool of us i'm tired hungry broke and just wish I could come back home
Forever, forever
Calling you out I called your bluff
But "that just wasn't good enough"
You split my face and spilled my blood
Then tears ran down the face I loved
It always hurts when its someone you love
Wont you rise above?
06 Losing (05:08)
I asked it where it had been
Then we started arguing
I'm just like the other ones
But I don't believe you think I'm dumb
And where did all the money go?
Did jesus come and no one know?
Sugar, spice and insulin
Hold me 'til you're back again
'Cause it feels like I'm losing you
When it feels like I'm losing you
We can try to laugh it off, I guess
Claiming blissful listlessness
But I miss, how it used to be
She only looks like you
When it's using me
Her silver spoon oblivion
Paints her blue and back again
While I hear...
I love you
I need you
I'm still here
Then I fear that I'm losing you
When it feels like I'm losing you
When it feels like I'm losing you
Then it feels like I'm losing you So do you do what you do for the love of it ?
Or do you do what you do with the thought of this?
Tell me my love, am I enough...
So I was still trying and fighting
And pushing in vein
And all that I did just to stop it
Would add to it's strength
Because a juggernaut will not stop even with you in the way
When it's given the choice of its life or to lose
I'm not so sure just which one you will choose
But I'm losing you
It feels like I'm losing you
When it feels like I'm losing you
then I fear that I'm losing you
So do you do what you do for the love of it
Or do you do what you do with the thought of this
Tell me my loves
Was I enough?
07 Unkind (04:07)
A perfect cancer was spreading and twisting
You start explaining and I'll stop pretending
That all of my actions are for you
And all of my heartache is from...
All that I needed was a life
Cause all that I found in you was a lie
All that I asked for was some time
Damn it all I love you
But, you're unkind
You gave your body to all who were willing
And took these pleasures that I wasn't filling
And everything sacred to me
Just adds to the heaving when I breathe.
So all that I needed was a life
Cause all that I found in you was a lie
And all that I asked for was some time
Damn it all I love you
But, you're unkind
To me you're unkind
To me... (and now we come clean)
Even though you had been used before I saved myself for you
But the contents of my stomach fell when I was told the truth
After one last desperation I begged you for some time
God damn it all
I loved you and you were unkind
She said all that I needed was a life
Cause all that I found in you was a lie
And all that I asked for was some time
Damn it all!
Damn it all!
But your un...
So, all that I needed was a life
Cause all that I found in you was a lie
yeah all that I asked for was some time
Damn it all I love you
But, you're unkind
So all that I needed was a life
Cause all that I found in you was a lie
yeah all that I asked for was some time
Damn it all I love you
But, you're....
Your unkind to me..
To, me..
But damn it all I love you and you're un...
10 Cold Inside (04:21)
Cold on the inside
In phases my lights die
Staring through ardent eyes
I love you, but I lied
Cold on the inside
In faces a smile dies
Staring through ardent eyes
I love you, but I lied
But it should be okay, they said
Just forget the pain, they said
Well, I could always lie
And yet the doctor said that I would be just fine
Yeah the whitecoat said that I
Would live until I'm
Cold on the inside of me
I'm cold on the inside of me
Cold on the inside
In me the little child
Holds thoughts that I hide
Dead though I seem a lie
Cold on the inside
In me the lights die
Staring through ardent eyes
As tears drop like moist flies
Yeah, they call me well
But I might live
Too long to die on the inside of me
Cause I'm cold on the inside of me
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