Review: The Lonely Forest, Arrows
Death Cab for Cutie guitarist/producer Chris Walla recently founded his own label, Trans, part of Warner Music’s Independent Label Group. Straight out of Anacortes, Washington, The Lonely Forest are his first signing, and Arrows, their first album under Walla’s supervision, dropped on March 22. Kick ass, right? (Keep reading to find out)!
Well, maybe not so kick ass. The Lonely Forest play straightforward indie pop, a simple sound incorporating occasional piano and strings. Singer John Van Deusen wasn’t very much blessed with the gift of writing lyrics, and unfortunately he often wines rather than sings, sounding a bit like Chris Carrabba’s of Dashboard Confessional. In fact, what the album does best is remind me of other bands. I’d classify them as Jimmy Eat World meets Dashboard Confessional, with some Nada Surf and Death Cab thrown in, but I’m sure you, the reader, could come up with one of dozens of possible combinations. My roommate points out that Van Deusen sounds like Ryan Miller of Guster–isn’t this game fun!
The Lonely Forest’s music can be catchy at times, but the band lacks a distinctive voice in a sea of indie pop artists (try thinking about that image without cringing). Their sound lacks emotion and feels like it was manufactured with the audience in mind rather than being crafted according to any artistic vision. They broke onto the Seattle music scene by taking first prize at the Experience Music Project battle of the bands, but now it seems like they’re riding on Chris Walla’s coattails and struggling to hold on. Walla has produced for many bands, including Nada Surf, The Decemberists, Hot Hot Heat, Rocky Votolato, and even Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin. When it came to signing a band to his own record label, I guess the pressure was too much for him. Although, he may be able to swindle a chunk of cash from the hoards of pre-teens who could care less about originality.
The album begins with a quiet number featuring acoustic guitar and vocals, supported by strings, but picks up the pace with the second track. The title of the second track? “Turn Off This Song And Go Outside.” Don’t mind if I do.
– Adam Greenberg, co-host dc ba (Mondays 9-10pm)
I saw the lonely forest at black cat way back in the fall when they opened for the morning benders. i quite liked them. i bought their EP and was excited for their LP release on 1-11-11 (how clever). i never got around to listening to it, but after going through the songs I bought earlier, i can understand why i never got so inclined. as much as i would have loved the lonely forest when i was 14 and declared death cab for cutie to be my (first) favorite band, the lonely forest needs to understand that music is also about assimilating to the new direction of sound. keep it current yo. nice review. let’s hope this rain ends so we can “go outside” to enjoy springtime.
I admit I like them, and liked their set at the Cat opening for Joy Formidable. Nevertheless, *name that influence* is so the game with this band. I’ll go with R.E.M. has a kid with Third Eye Blind and the kid goes to school on Death Cab