Abigail's Ghost - Selling Insincerity
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Free Music Notes for Selling Insincerity
Free Music Review: GREAT DEBUT
Hit: 4 Stars
Great debut from this American soiled band. These guys have a lot of musical talent and is displayed on this release. However, with all the talent they possess they failed to make a mark of distinction. Selling Insincerity sounds waaaaay too much like Porcupine Tree. I believe that if this band could muster the creativity to separate themselves from being compared with PT they will go far. Again, the talent is there, but they need to create their own sound. With that in mind, I gave this debut release a 4 star because even if it does sound like PT...hell, its still great music. So if you like PT you can't go wrong picking up Selling Insincerity by Abigails Ghost.Free Music Review: It grows on you
Hit: 4 Stars
I had never heard Abigail's Ghost before I purchased this CD a few months ago. I was not blown away immediately, although I thought there were several good songs on Selling Insecurity. I could immediately see the influence of Porcupine Tree, who I love. After I loaded it to my playlist and randomly heard each of the songs, it really grew on me and now I think it's a pretty good effort. From the melodic Waiting Room and Monochrome, to the heavy biting Sellout, and the 'Tool'-ish sounds of Cerulean Blue and Mother May I, it has something for everyone. My only somewhat negative thought is that I didn't feel that Joshua Theriot shows a tremendous range as a vocalist and that his vocal nuances don't vary a great deal from song to song. But he has a pleasing tone, much like Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree, though below Wilson's skill level.
Overall I really like this CD.
Free Music Review: Smells Like Porc but I love it!
Hit: 4 Stars
I'm really enjoying this album a lot. At first blush it sounds like a Porcupine Tree album which isn't a bad thing but after repeated listenings you pick up on the subtle nuances of their style and the music starts to separate itself somewhat from the PT comparison. The only track that makes me wince, at least as far as sounding like a complete ripoff of a PT song is Cerulean Blue which sounds a lot like the Creator Has a Mastertape from In Absentia. Having said that, I still dig the song. You know it wasn't that long ago that Steve Wilson was accused of ripping off Pink Floyd when Voyage 34 was released. He seems to have found his own voice and style thank you very much. They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. That may be true, but in this case this debut by Abigails Ghost goes beyond mere imitation. If you are a fan of PT or music in that style check this out. Its very good.Free Music Review: Incredible Prog-Rock Debut
Hit: 5 Stars
"Selling Insincerity" is definately the best progressive rock debut album since Riverside's "Out Of Myself", and one of the best of the year's releases period.
Combining elements of rock, '70s prog, and modern alternative metal, this band owes a huge debt to Porcupine Tree, but they are obviously aware of this influence, and manage to move beyond mere homage or copycatting and create their own sound without being too derivative. Subdued, acoustic interludes and textured atmospherics alternated with heavy, distorted riffs build into huge crescendoes of sound and motion. Superb musicianship abounds on this album, as well as excellent production values and songwriting, which is quite impressive for a band's debut album...thought-provoking, melancholy lyrics and arrangements reminiscent of the aforementioned band as well as Opeth, Katatonia and Tool. Highly recommended; definately on my top-ten list this year!
Free Music Review: A mindblowing debut
Hit: 5 Stars
Selling Insincerity is the debut album of Abigail's Ghost, a young American band formed around the nucleus of guitarist and vocalist Joshua Theriot and bassist Kenneth Wilson. Though the band avoids categorization, their style of music mostly falls into progressive rock that emphasizes a blend of groove, spacey atmospheres, and excellent vocal harmonies.
This is a self-released effort, drawing from a vast library of influences including Porcupine Tree, A Perfect Circle, Tool, Massive Attack, and Rush. The low bass drones of the album opener "Mazurka" lead into the rhythmically aware "Close", which immediately stands out for its Porcupine Tree-like vocal arrangement, sparse drum beats, and bleak synth lines. The chorus of the song is incredibly memorable, and helps thicken the already dense soundscape. You can hear lots of weird sound collections in the background if you listen with a good set of headphones. The song breaks down into a creepy middle section filled with cold acoustic guitars capped by powerful bass strokes and distant keyboards.
Joshua Theriot employs a similar vocal recording technique to Steven Wilson; he utilises the same processed vocal style and laidback singing whilst continuously exerting a melodious delivery. His vocal melodies on songs like "Waiting Room" and "Seeping" are amazing. Though most will be reminded of Steven Wilson when hearing him sing, Theriot cites Chris Corner of IAMX and Sneaker Pimps as his main influence. He is also an excellent guitar player, adding varied guitar sounds to the compositions. He can go from elegiac lead playing on "Monochrome" to atonal expressions on "Love Sounds" and "Cerulean Blue", both of which boast a Belew-like tone and articulation.
Kenneth Wilson's backing vocals and bass are equally important to the success of these songs. Not only is he a gifted songwriter, he is also an excellent producer given the duo's limited resources when recording this album. If it weren't for the amazing production, there is no way these songs would sound as good as they do. Wilson's bass playing is particularly central on "Cerulean Blue", complete with industrial-like beats, eerie sounds, and manipulated vocal parts. The mix on this song is phenomenal, blowing the listener away with killer right-left speaker panning.
The other members' performance is awesome as well. The studio drummer did a great job, as he exerts both classic 4/4 beats and complex polyrhythms depending on the flow of the song (he is now replaced by permanent member John Patrick Rodrigue). They have also enlisted a second guitar player since they cut the record: Randy Paul. However, Joshua Theriot's guitar work is solid through and through with crunchy rhythms and excellent leads. Theriot has also recorded some synths along with keyboardist Brett Guillory who brings in Barbieri-like synth textures in order to reach necessary atmospheres.
The lyrics are thought-provoking and match the incredible artwork perfectly. The image on the front cover gives a sense of separation while the baby doll lying on the ground in the foreground has ties to themes of abandonment, which is explored on the album. Also, "Sellout" could be read as a nod to Porcupine Tree's "The Sound of Muzak", but it is also about compromising oneself. The band isn't that keen on talking about their lyrics as they believe it might defeat the purpose of extrapolating one's own meaning.
Fans who enjoy progressive music that marries the hallmarks of Porcupine Tree's modern-sounding material with the harmonies of Cure and A Perfect Circle should check this disc out. Selling Insincerity is one of the best debuts of the year along with Thought Chamber's Angular Perceptions and John Macaluso & Union Radio's The Radio Waves Goodbye.