artist: Oceansize | album: Self Preserved While The Bodies Float Up | genre: alternative, rock label: Superball Music
Dear Oceansize:
I’ve known you and loved you for almost seven years, which makes this letter very difficult to write. Things have always been great between us. We met when you released your debut, Effloresce. It was one of the best, if not the best, albums of the year and, overnight, you became one of my favorite bands. Effloresce was a staggering blend of power and grace, sour and sweet, frenzy and calm. We spent day after day together and when you released a follow-up EP, Music for Nurses, it was like everything fell into place for us. You were awesome, you made me happy, you were unique and indispensable, we both knew it, and the road ahead for us was clear and sunny.
Albums two and three, Everyone Into Position and Frames, respectively, did nothing to dampen my enthusiasm. You broadened your sound to include more slower, deliberate songs (songs like “Music For A Nurse,” “The Frame” and “Savant” are three of your greatest) that emphasized atmosphere over thunder, yet still brought a steady, yet understated power. I kept listening and waiting for you to return to America after seeing you here in 2004.
Now you’ve issued album number four, Self Preserved While The Bodies Float Up. And that’s why I’m writing to you, today. You see, this is tough to say, I doubted you. I listened for two days on repeat and came away disappointed. Yes, I said disappointed. I wondered what happened to you, why things seemed so…not good. It was strange to see someone I thought I knew well come up so short. More out of shock than anything else, I kept listening.
Then, late last week, I had THE moment – suddenly, the new album clicked. When I realized its greatness, from the ferocity of “Build Us A Rocket Then…” and “It’s My Tail And I’ll Chase It If I Want To,” to the majesty of “Oscar Acceptance Speech” and “Pine,” I also realized I’d been wrong to judge you so quickly. Everything I’ve always loved about you is still there and there are new parts to you that I’m digging, too. And while it’s amazing to feel this way, it’s also a bit of a drag, because I should have known better than to think you’d lost it. You’ve always been ridiculously good, always. It took me a bit longer with the new one, but I ended up in the same place I always do with you – in awe and wishing mightily that you’d come back and tour the US.
Until then, know that I remain a dedicated fan. I hope you’ll forgive me. The new album is sick, sick, sick. Still friends?
– Thurdeen