The internet basically dominates today’s society. This gives people, especially bands, the opportunity to share and promote their works with the world. Social networks, like MySpace, and music distributors, such as iTunes and Amazon, give ways to share music to basically anyone who puts their mind to it. However, just because you may be on the internet does not mean you can become famous. It takes a certain kind of talent, discipline and originality to stand out above the rest.In September 2007, a very unexpected force shook the world of MySpace-a sixteen-year-old kid from Joplin, Mo. armed with a guitar and a ukulele. His name is Christofer Drew Ingle, but to his fans, he is known as NeverShoutNever.
The sound of his first EP (short album) called “The Yippee,” was a fresh new start for the indie-pop genre. His song “Bigcitydreams” went on to be No. 1 on the Hot 100 Singles Sales in 2008.
NeverShoutNever has released five EPs and two full length albums in the past three years. His latest CD is called Harmony, and it will be the subject of my review this week.
The first track from the CD, “Harmony,” has been around for a while now, so it wasn’t very new to me. It has very good lyrics along with a nice mellow sound. The next two tracks make me remember the past hits from his first three CDs that, in my opinion, contain the best work he’s ever done.
What’s sad is that after the first three tracks the CD becomes forgettable. Each song turns into this new “folk-country” genre. The NeverShoutNever that I remember used acoustic guitar with a little techno mixed in. It seems like he is trying to change genres. Most of the remaining songs have a sad tone. I don’t know about you, but I would listen to NeverShoutNever during my down time because the music made me happy. I don’t need music to make me feel worse.
Ingle has been given a lot of bad feedback lately, and I think I’m starting to understand why. The listeners miss the happy toned music that was heard in the first three EPs and even the first full length.
When it comes down to it, most listeners would pick a song that makes them happy over a song that makes them sad. I give NeverShoutNever’s newest album, Harmony, a two out of five because most of the songs don’t jump out at me as “I have to put this on my iPod now!” kind of music. For all past NeverShoutNever fans, you may be disappointed like I was with this album. For those who have never heard of this band before, I suggest looking up some of his older work.
