AWmusic

“Unofficially” released March 12, 2009 (according to their MySpace blog)

Amos The Transparent is the brainchild of Jonathan Chandler. Growing tired of playing with several other bands, Chandler decided it was time to forge out on his own. He appealed to his long-time friend Christopher Wilson to help him polish the songs he had and to help him crystallize his vision. Since forming Amos The Transparent with Wilson, Amos The Transparent have added Mark Hyne, James Nicol, Don Hay and Katy Cooke to the musical mix. Amos The Transparent has garnered a lot of attention and praise for their debut album Everything I’ve Forgotten To Forget. This album was heavily infused with a folk/folk-rock sensibility and had as much in common with Elliot Smith as it did with the likes of Wilco. The songs are awash with beautiful harmonies and, muted horns. My favourite on the CD is “Title Track” with Chandler’s clear tenor carrying a melody that’s hard to get out of your head.

Their new release is a self-produced 5 song EP, My, What Big Teeth You Have…. The songs on these EP are a bit of a departure from the folk/rock tunes on Everything I’ve Forgotten To Forget”. Gone are the horns and the unadorned melodies in favour of many overdubs and soaring atmospherics. The vocals are not as up front as they are on their full-length CD. The lyrics, as well, aren’t as strong and sound forced and trite in places. This CD has a sound far closer to Broken Social Scene, Stars or Neverending White Lights than to the folk/rock of it’s predecessor although “Lemons aka (Big Fish Little Pond)” returns to the Crosby, Stills, and Nash vibe and harmonies. Chandler’s voice, ever changing, made me think of Ben Kweller of Death Cab For Cutie at times and other times like David Crosby. And while I’m talking about “Lemons” it is very similar to “Title Track” on Everything I’ve Forgotten To Forget, although sans horns. I do miss the horns, I think it would add interest to otherwise rather ho-hum song.

I have to admit that I have been listening to this CD a fair bit, probably 2-3 times a day over the last several days and find that it does not stand up to that many repeated listenings. I was heartily sick of “Lemons” by today. The first track, “This Town”, faired a bit better but it is most unlike the other songs on the EP, starting with a rather interesting guitar line and plenty of psychedelic washes, just don’t listen to the lyrics too closely. “I write songs for all the boys and girls with broken hearts…” starts the song off, then he goes on to say, “I don’t write songs to fill your bank account…”. Ok. Instead listen to the gorgeous vocals of Katy Cooke singing in the background. “Up, Up and Away” has a melody that sticks with you but again the lyrics kind of let the song down. They sound important but are really trite and tiring after repeated listenings.

All in all, I find the songs too crowded and over-produced to be effective. They sound like they are importing some kind of musical insight but fall flat. Everything I’ve Forgotten To Forget allowed the songs more breathing space and Chandler didn’t seem to have a need to fill every space with sound. The songs on this EP would have been better served if the arrangements were a little more open and sparser. Otherwise, as an occasional listen I would have no problem putting it into the CD player but more for the fact that I wouldn’t have to pay much attention to it.

Will be appearing with Laurent Burque in Ottawa at Zaphods May 16 , in Toronto at The Horeshoe May 22, and the Drake Hotel June 18th as part of the I (heart) Music’s showcase at NXNE.

You can find Amos The Transparent here:

MySpace
Facebook
Official Website

You can buy Amos the Transparent’s debut cd at iTunes, Maple Music and CDBaby. According to their MySpace, My, What Big Teeth You Have… will be on iTunes shortly, meanwhile you can buy it at their gigs.

And finally, for your listening pleasure:

Amos The Transparent – This Town
Amos The Transparent – Greater Than Consequence

Tags: EP