Analog Kid: OURB Album Review

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

OURB proves that rock and roll is still very much alive and well. Analog Kid delivers the goods with an offering that provides sounds and influences that listeners will be familiar with. It’s got prog roots with some great pop sensibilities. The songs are a continuation and appears to be a retrospective of life from birth through adulthood and maybe through death, depending on your interpretation.

It gets heavier as the album progresses, but those sounds are tempered with some beautiful, ethereal musical waves that soften the album in all the right places. The songs as a collective draw a parallel between the heaviness of life and the music as we move through our time lines. While things are peaceful and blissful when we are young, life becomes more complex and much noisier as we age.

Yesterday, I Thought I Was A Baby is s Beatles-esque number that commences with some harmonic dissonance and quickly evolves into an infectious groove that is reminiscent of The White Album era. The song then takes a slight right turn and gets a little heavier and transitions into some absolutely gorgeous Lennon style vocalizations. This is not a copy, this is fusion. Taking elements of old and blending them with fresh original sounds to make something new and original.

The story continues with Back Inside, which can be interpreted in a number of ways. My interpretation is a person trying to cling onto childhood and youth for as long as possible, even regressing slightly at times. The song paints a landscape and backdrop that is slightly distorted and maybe slightly in a different key, creating a perfect blend of traditional song composition and a sprinkling of weirdness on top.

The album concludes with a heavy, droning metal track, Fried, which resonates with a thunderous energy that lingers in the air long after the last notes fall silent. This formidable composition is infused with an intensity that captures the very essence of the album’s overarching themes. Its slow, crushing riffs serve not only as the bedrock of the song but also as a harbinger of impending doom, enveloping the listener in a dark and mesmerizing atmosphere.

Haunting vocals delicately weave a narrative that compels listeners to engage deeply, leaving them shaking their heads slowly to and fro in lock step with the tempo. The intricate layering of instruments plays a crucial role in this experience, adding a rich depth that draws one back for repeated listens. Each instrument finds its place, contributing to a tapestry of sound that feels both chaotic and profoundly moving.

As the final crescendo reaches its peak and then gradually fades away, there’s a palpable sense of closure that washes over the audience. This moment urges fans to reflect carefully on the journey they’ve just traversed through the previous tracks—a journey marked by exploration, emotion, and introspection. The lingering echoes of OURB serve as a reminder of the album’s powerful message, leaving a lasting impression that resonates well beyond its conclusion.

Listen and buy OURB here