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Entertainment WeeklyOne of the most expansive "punk" records in recent memory: hushed vocals, toy pianos, and weird drum-machine beats, alongside soaring (and often howling) rock. [Listen 2 This supplement, Mar 2004, p.12]
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Onelinedrawing, in general, may be a bit too saccharine for some listeners, and it lacks the classic power pop levity of a Brendan Benson or Weakerthans, but The Volunteers is a wildly inventive record that can stand tall beside earnest peers like Saves the Day's In Reverie.
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Striped of its proto-emo veneer this is sterling stuff, which - although fraught with angst - is run through with a mellow, humbling tone that is as infectious and accessible as it is true to hardcores staunch code of ethical values.
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Its one of those growers. The lyrics are clever. The running-order is immaculately conceived - it's practically a concept album.
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Hes able to craft songs that are touching without becoming seriously over-sensitive.
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It's got tunes and inspiration to spare, and its genuine modesty chips away at your resistance.
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Even while it's unfortunately anticlimatic, The Volunteers is a fine record, and a welcome addition to the modern singer/songwriter canon.
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BlenderThe best songs here brace his vulnerability with expansive flourishes. [Apr 2004, p.134]
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Alternative PressAn organic burst of music and melody that is Matranga's best work yet. [Apr 2004, p.84]
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Rolling StoneMatranga has a warm, whispery voice and an eagerness to please, giving him some of the huggable-rock-star appeal of an Eddie Vedder or Chris Carrabba. [10 Jun 2004, p.91]
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Where The Volunteers falls down, surprisingly, is in the excessively slick production. Despite the ethos and lyrics, musically this is not the handmade, indie effort you might expect.
User score distribution:
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Positive: 4 out of 5
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Mixed: 1 out of 5
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Negative: 0 out of 5
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NicolasKApr 18, 2004un son relaxant avec une voix superbe
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ryannMar 30, 2004extremely overwhelming in its honesty. this represents what music should be about : love.