Search - Animators :: Home By Now

Nothing short of a musical miracle

Craig Gardner Yerkes | San Diego, CA USA | 08/10/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sometimes you hear an Indie disc and, if it's great, you think..."geez, it's sad that these guys aren't more well known". Listening to "Home By Now" actually inspired a different thought for me...."these guys are so incredible that it's literally impossible that they won't gain the audience that they deserve". Yep, they are THAT good. This disc is an almost impossible mix of kinetic musical energy, ultra-intelligent musical and lyrical ideas, raw passion, careful crafting, skillful execution, serious-minded focus AND kick-ass fun. Honestly, only my Beatles records have ever inspired me like this recording. To be more specific...."Nice Guy" sneaks up on you as it starts mellow and then builds and builds and BUILDS into a bittersweet, angry symphony of passive aggressive pop rock angst. Track #2 "Rearrange"...damn, what a musical explosion this is! You would expect a song that tells you to "rearrange each day" in an upbeat rocker might have some positive message about planning your life better. Ummm...no. The masterful lyrics on "Rearrange" are a stern rebuke and warning about the dangers/pitfalls of filling your life with no much noise and activity that you never have to experience any real connection/emotion. Whether you track with the lyrics or not, "Rearrange" is to be marvelled at for it's energy, melody, crazy rhythmic kicks/accents and a lead vocal that not many singers would even ATTEMPT. "Girl #3" is my personal fav. track with it's heartbreaking and dead on portrayal of a dream gone wrong ("the trailer promised so much more, before the best years of her life fell to the cutting room floor") and how fleeting it all is. The ending lyrics ("10,000 light years through a telescopic lens, you can just make out the light it sends") is such a powerful metaphor for how pathetic our lack of perspective is that I get chills every damn time I hear it. "The Drive" notches up the mysterious element of The Animators with an irresistably ethereal melodic rock ballad that features a serious dose of two-part harmony magic. "Better Not Say" tells the classic "oops, I shouldn't have let you go and now you're marrying someone else" from a hearbreaking, mature and intelligent perspective..and the music could not fit more perfectly to the sentiment of the song. "Medicine" is the most straight ahead pop-rocker on the album and uses a can't miss, hook laden musical approach to deliver a fairly serious message about the evil drug companies and our increasing need to medicate ourselves ("they won't stop until they've put happiness into a pill")...pure (smart) pop genius. "Perfect World" just keeps the catchy alt. pop train chuggin' with more hooks (even some perfectly applied "na na's" at the end), clever lyrics and two-part harmony...this time with a very different lead vocal approach. Somehow, "Perfect World" seems the most "radio ready" track on this disc, which is saying ALOT, and I love the criminal/police metaphors used to describe getting busted for the "crime" of love em' and leave em'. Ok, this is getting too long! But hey, this CD deserves the extra time. "Simple" is sweet and smart tribute to a girl who hasn't let the mean streets take her spirit and heart....and once AGAIN, all the musical elements support the wonderful lyrics seamlessly (the restrained, light touch applied to the lead vocal is masterful)...SIMPLy beautiful stuff. "If Only" puts us back on the mystery train with a spooky track that surprised the hell out of me with the KILLER extended, jazzy horn solos...wow. So as not to blow too much sunshine here, I will point out that this track contains what I would consider some unavoidable pitfalls of a less than major label budget, such as some less than ideal intonation between the fretless bass and acoustic guitar...plus the guitar sounds like it was either not recorded very well and/or maybe it's just a really cheap nylon string that only gets pulled out of it's case every 5 years. The disc does have some production issues like these that stand out from time to time, but I'll take the passion and the creativity ANY DAY over slick, boring music. Anyway, I digressed....back to the disc..."How to Get By" and "Help Is On The Way", to me, sound almost like a two part musical thank you/love note to the listeners who have jumped in to take the musical journey with band. These two tracks are written by mature, worldly-wise artists who don't try to paint life as being any easier than it is (they have the ring of truth). This is heartfelt empathy/encouragement/hope that doesn't insult your intelligence. The soaring, beautiful guitar solo and vocal anthem/out-tro on "Help is On the Way" perfectly send the disc into the sunset and leave the listener with a feeling of connection to the material and the artists that only the most classic recordings can make you feel. "Home By Now" is a gift that feels like it was made just for me....but I know I am not the only one who loves it this much.



Craig Yerkes - New Music Reviewer for The San Diego Troubadour Magazine"

My All Time Favorite New Independent Album. Period.

Johnny Rock | Reno, NV | 05/24/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is an album you must have. Innovative, rock, acoustic, sweet, harsh... it embodies every feeling and has clever messages inside that may not get you on the first listen. But it is okay because you will surely listen much more than once, this is a definite must have and a beautiful piece of art. Five Stars across the board."