Hurt is a band that I’ve enjoyed for many years, due primarily to the nuances that they often bring to the sometimes overly-done genre of hard rock. J. Loren Wince (the lead vocalist) plays a violin in many of Hurt’s songs, and that is an amazing sound when coupled with the steady, low-end crunch of guitars and bass. They released their new album, The Crux on 01 May 2012. I’ve listened to it quite a few times now, and think it’s time for a full review.
1. So When – 6 / 10
The opening track starts with a nice piano part, and seems to continue down the path set by their previous album, Goodbye to the Machine. The vocals drag a little bit, especially compared to the speed of the guitars and the violin subtleties. The latter portion of the song feels a little bit like a jam session.
2. Eden – 7 / 10
The lyrics in the chorus, which are “It was the only time that Eden wasn’t far away from me,” are reminescent of the downcast nature of their past albums. Musically, however, the song sounds like it is trying to be dark, but still seems a bit bubbly. I really like the haunting bridge that builds up and leads into a little instrumental section, immediately followed by the final chorus.
3. Links & Waves – 4 / 10
As a brief musical interlude, this track provides a bit of closure to Eden. It’s a nice little supplement, but I think that it probably just should have been tacked onto the end of the previous track.
4. Sally Slips – 2 / 10
The bass and guitars play off of each other really nicely during the verses, and the vocals are subtly strewn about. The chorus has significantly stronger vocals, which corresponds nicely with the verses. However, this song falls REALLY flat due to the repetition. Honestly, I’m a bit shocked that this track made the cut during selection for the album.
5. When It’s Cold – 10 / 10
This song hits hard from the very start, and musically, it is very much a continuation of the chorus of Wars. Right when it starts, I thought of the line “I think of all the days in my life / where I could have done something more.” The chorus is strong, the verses are stronger, and the lyrics are raw, passionate, and real. This track is one of the highlights of the album.
6. adonai – 10 / 10
Starting with just some basic drums, and slowly building into a verse questioning religion and faith in an existential manner. Adonai being a Hebrew name for YHWH or God, the whole track directly calls into question the horrible atrocities of the world coexisting with a God that is love. This song is musically striking, (especially with J. Loren Wince’s violen part during the bridge), and lyrically both sharp and thought-provoking. Easily the most powerful track on The Crux, and reminescent of Hurt’s older works. Simply outstanding!
7. Caught in the Rain – 6 / 10
Combining soft piano and some violin parts in the beginning, Caught in the Rain almost has a pop-rock feel to it. The song really paints a vivid picture of the story that it tells. The pain portrayed in the lyrics really seems to clash with the sound, though. The guitar solo especially sounds a bit out of place, though it is nicely executed.
8. Cuffed – 6 / 10
Great guitar work in the very beginning–a sound that reminds me of some earlier songs by Staind. The rest of the song is a lot like the tracks on their last album, Goodbye to the Machine. I would have liked the vocals to stand out a little more than they did; the lyrics were a bit difficult to understand because of the muddiness of the mix.
9. How We end up Alone – 9 / 10
Though this track also sounds a bit like the themes presented throughout Goodbye to the Machine, How We end up Alone is more reminescent of the sounds of Hurt’s earlier albums I and II, which is a welcome change from a lot of the other tracks on this album. It is heavier-hitting, with amazing use of the violin in the background. This song would generate a lot of energy during a live show; I only wish it was a bit longer. I can’t review this song without mentioning the amazing line of “I gave her my youth just to make me the proof / That’s how we end up alone.”
10. Numbers – 4 / 10
The verses seem crudely juxtaposed with the vocals, but it smooths out during the chorus. The guitarists and bassist seem to be each doing their own thing, and it doesn’t really meld all that well. At times, it sounds like this song was recorded in stages, and then stitched together during post-production.
11. The Seer – 7 / 10
Not a bad song, but not really what I would expect as the finale of the album. The flow is very much in the style of Hurt in that it progresses slowly and steadily in a way that few other bands are able to replicate, and it does so without becoming dull.
What I have to remind myself is that this a great album when I’m not comparing it to the band’s earlier works (namely, the outstanding collections of The (Re)Consumation, Vol. I, and Vol. II). They are a band that continuously refines their sound, and I greatly appreciate them for it. As with Goodbye to the Machine, The Crux is generally well-rounded, yet left me craving some of the style off their older albums.
71 / 110 = ~65% –> 6.5 stars:
