Mother ? State Your Intention
Jeremy Tanzer | West Linn, OR | 10/23/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Mother's inaugural disc, State Your Intention, demonstrates strong growth for those of us who have been listening to the band's work since its inception over two years ago. For those who have never heard of Mother, this album offers a glimpse into the band and how they feel about their music and the world around them. While this first album may not have the polish of a major label studio recording, the music is true, and the philosophy of the band comes out strong.Mother offers a blend of traditional pop themes such as love (Kiss Somebody); but Mother also has music that is laced with themes of contemporary importance such as homelessness (Song for A.T. Fairchild), questioning faith (Who Speaks for God), as well as science (Lost in a Helix). Mother, in their mission statement, states that they not only want to be a politically and socially savvy band, but they also have a desire to make good music that can be received by a wide audience. State Your Intention attempts to do just that.This album seems to have three "movements", the first four songs build towards a climax of "Reillusioned", in which you can hear the influence of Rush. The middle of the album is a plateau of songs that are more gentle (musically, not socially). The last three songs of the album make for the final movement of the album where Mother chooses to finish off with a bang.With album number two already in the works, Mother is not waiting for success: they are actively seeking it. State Your Intention, is a great addition to anyone's music collection."
An extremely enjoyable musical experience!
Jeffrey A Rings | Seattle, WA USA | 02/03/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"State Your Intention, the debut full-length CD from the Seattle trio Mother, is by far a mesmerizing musical experience, highly worthy of permanent rotation in any real rock fan's music collection. After having had the pleasure of watching this trio hone their musical camaraderie over the last couple of years, it is apparent that their combined songwriting talent, which was of course quite good to start, has now grown exponentially and is now finally available for people all over the world to enjoy for the first time. State Your Intention's thirteen tracks represent the entire range of their musical catalog, from catchy pop numbers such as the live crowd favorite "This View of Life" to newer, more intricately-woven tracks such as "Something is Amiss" and "Time of Beauty". Several of the more upbeat pop-oriented tracks will sound familiar to those of you lucky enough to own the Hello World EP from 2001. Songs such as "Kiss Somebody" and "Wednesday James" still pack the same familiar, excited punch, yet these new versions of course have a much higher production quality, therefore adding an entirely new dimension to each song. The CD ends on quite a positive note; the anthemic, rocketing Alpha, a song that demonstrates this band's amazing potential, both musically and figuratively. Overall, State Your Intention is well worth purchasing. Consider it a wholly valuable expense in what should be your proper musical education. You won't regret it!"
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1