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Uzi And Ari
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Don't Leave In Such A Hurry
Crying Girl Records
Release: 11/30/2004
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Rated:
Review by:
Jason Warner
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One of the hardest things to capture in music is the intense
dynamic of what the songwriter was trying to get across. Uzi
and Ari have done it almost to the point that I have trouble
explaining to people what I love about this band.
Don't Leave In Such A Hurry is one of my
favorite records of 2004, and that's after only hearing the
full album a couple times so far. I first heard about Uzi and
Ari in early 2004 on an internet discussion board when a
member of the band posted a link to some song samples by
the band. I immediately downloaded the incomplete tracks
and proceeded to listen to the fragmented clips over and
over, anticipating the time when I could hear all the tracks in
their entirety and in the context of a proper album. The
debut album from Uzi and Ari on Crying Girl Records proves
that sentimental gentlemen still exist, and that music can still
move you without making you want to commit
suicide.
Uzi and Ari formed a little less than a year ago and have put
their time together to good use. Main songwriter/singer, Ben
Shepard, has crafted a set of songs that is both cohesive
and hauntingly beautiful. The singing is beautiful, the guitars
lush, and the atmosphere swirling. Uzi and Ari sound like
some combo of Mogwai, The Sea and Cake, and less out of
control Radiohead. The melodies are creative and intense,
the arrangements intelligent and flowing. The songwriting is
solid and sincere, blending experimentation and ambience
while managing to remain accessible and
engaging.
While many of the songs on Don't Leave In Such A
Hurry are not what you would consider radio friendly
in terms of length, as a listener I never felt bored or tired of
what I was hearing. The songs generally start out quiet and
then gradually add layers and textures until they become a
massive wall of sound. This formula is not a new one, but
somehow Uzi and Ari have found a way that makes it seem
like they are the first ones with the idea.
There is plenty of tasteful piano on this album, and this
element combined with the haunting vocals are my favorite
part of Don't Leave In Such A Hurry. If I had
to pick one track from the record as a favorite it would have
to be "Blood and Vibrance." I love the harmony vocals on
this one, and overall I think this song best represents what I
love about Uzi and Ari. You could easily love this band from
hearing only this one track, but it would be an injustice,
because there is so much other good material on Don't
Leave In Such A Hurry. The disc has not left my
player since I got it in the mail, and my only hope is that
they have more songs in the works. I want more! |
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