Crimes
[These United States]
I received Crimes from a good friend of mine a little while ago. I had never heard of them before but I really liked the album art the first time I saw the album (this is [almost] always a good sign). So over the past few days I’ve been listening to the intricate multi-faceted music of These United States, and I approve.
Strengths
I always appreciate variety. This album is variety, and therefore I appreciate it. One of the strongest parts of Crimes is the diversity in style. There are several upbeat and rhythmic songs, but they are complimented by those that are acoustic ballads full of emotions in quiet esteem. The lyrical depth of the album is also something to be commended. Lines such as “each wave a mirror, each crest a key” strike me with elegant beauty. I am glad the use of instruments is also not over done or too colloquial. Yes, there is your basic guitars and drums, but with the addition of banjo, piano, and synthetic sounds, that mundane guitar takes on some pretty interesting shapes.
Weaknesses
These United State’s songs are pretty well crafted, however there are no obvious immediate hits. It seems as though the album is strong overall, but it lacks the potential to put itself way out on the forefront of the music industry. This is nothing to fret about, but I think a progression and maturity in their sound will lead to wider and wider influence in the music community.
Sometimes the music can seem a little repetitive, however this is not a huge deal. Some of the songs sound similar, but they do fluctuate with lyrical depth and instrumental craft. It’s not necessarily a great weakness, but there is room for improvement on balance.
Aesthetic Appeal
This is not pop, rock, or any typical form of popular music. This is pure alternative. Although “alternative” is certainly hard to define, Crimes is a bass infused peppy folk singers journal. There is lyrical depth and surfaces even through all the ragtime-esque piano runs. It seems to be a style based on southern influence with northern sophistication. The instrumental diversity will not be disappointing, and neither will These Untied States lead singer’s rich and dynamic voice. Although it is not entirely smooth, the type of music presented in Crimes complements the vocals nicely.
Spirituality
Although there is not a lot of content that speaks directly about spirituality in Crimes, there is a lot to say about emotion and reflection. Major themes of the songs include self-reflection, pride, pain, sympathy, and sadness. The album does not deal with anything that is too difficult to comprehend, but the way in which they present this communication can be difficult o decipher.
Standout Tracks
Six Fast Bullets
Susie at the Seashore
(This is kind of hard. They are all good)
