2008 Woodie Awards
CD review: Adam Rich, You cant escape life
By: Melinda Jacobs
Issue date: 7/18/07 Section: Pulse
Adam Rich can't escape life, nor can he escape his love and passion for creating music.
"You Can't Escape Life," Rich's second full-length album, is a true cultivation of all of his musical experiences, from both his solo career and participation in State of Green, Tadpol, and Girth over the past 15 years.
Although he is no singer, Rich plays both guitar, bass, and sometimes even drums for the album, featuring various vocal talents from other groups such as Atomic Crash, Pacemaker Jane and Andy Elias. What started with 25 copies of a four-track tape made in his basement, "Leave My Fish Alone," has turned into an impressive 10-track album, full of a variety of rhythms, messages, and even genres.
The album starts off with a true showcase of Rich's musical talents, with an upbeat instrumental piece, entitled "Frizzhead."
Next is perhaps the weakest part of the album with "Perfect" and "You Can't Escape Life." Despite the interesting and personal lyrics of "Perfect" - "thanks for putting up with all my quirks and traits my half baked ideas and my stupid mistakes" - the vocals are less than desirable, and deviate away from the graceful melody Rich performs in the first track.
The same seems to be the case for "You Can't Escape Life," with the same rough and unmelodic vocal performance, as well as some cheesy lyrics like "Death is a part of life/ And life is a part of death." Both of these songs also seem to have a more simplified melody than even the very first instrumental had, and don't live up to Rich's previous performances.
However, the rest of the album makes up for the weak start, with the strong vocal performances by Jared Levengood in "Vultures" and "Meteorology" and also the beautiful instrumentals of the last two tracks especially. Rich really takes the opportunity in these songs to show off his talents and connect to the music, by offering listeners something complex, soothing and riveting all at the same time.
"You Can't Escape Life," Rich's second full-length album, is a true cultivation of all of his musical experiences, from both his solo career and participation in State of Green, Tadpol, and Girth over the past 15 years.
Although he is no singer, Rich plays both guitar, bass, and sometimes even drums for the album, featuring various vocal talents from other groups such as Atomic Crash, Pacemaker Jane and Andy Elias. What started with 25 copies of a four-track tape made in his basement, "Leave My Fish Alone," has turned into an impressive 10-track album, full of a variety of rhythms, messages, and even genres.
The album starts off with a true showcase of Rich's musical talents, with an upbeat instrumental piece, entitled "Frizzhead."
Next is perhaps the weakest part of the album with "Perfect" and "You Can't Escape Life." Despite the interesting and personal lyrics of "Perfect" - "thanks for putting up with all my quirks and traits my half baked ideas and my stupid mistakes" - the vocals are less than desirable, and deviate away from the graceful melody Rich performs in the first track.
The same seems to be the case for "You Can't Escape Life," with the same rough and unmelodic vocal performance, as well as some cheesy lyrics like "Death is a part of life/ And life is a part of death." Both of these songs also seem to have a more simplified melody than even the very first instrumental had, and don't live up to Rich's previous performances.
However, the rest of the album makes up for the weak start, with the strong vocal performances by Jared Levengood in "Vultures" and "Meteorology" and also the beautiful instrumentals of the last two tracks especially. Rich really takes the opportunity in these songs to show off his talents and connect to the music, by offering listeners something complex, soothing and riveting all at the same time.
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