Album Review: The Lone Bellow — Walk Into a Storm
The Lone Bellow, an alt-indie group from Brooklyn, NY, released their third studio album this September. Walk Into a Storm features ten new tracks from the group. Let’s go track-by-track to see how it all went down.
1. “Deeper in the Water” — 10/10
This opener at first reminds me of Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain,” but it soon not only differentiates itself from Fleetwood’s classic, but sets itself up to become a new classic in its own right. This bluesy, folk rock song is a stellar opener with impeccable layered harmonies and powerful melodies that will immediately get you hooked on The Lone Bellow.
2. “Is It Ever Gonna Be Easy” — 7/10
With harsh lines like, “You got the softest lips but the sharpest mouth / Always ready with a hundred different ways to cut me down,” this laid back track discusses a toxic, strained relationship. While this track is an enjoyable listen, it just didn’t grab my attention like “Deeper in the Water.”
3. “May You Be Well” — 7/10
The message of this track is pretty straightforward, as the narrator sings words of comfort and support to an unknown woman named Loretta. Similar to “Is It Ever Gonna Be Easy,” while this is a technically sound track and the strings on the outro were lovely, it didn’t really wow me.
4. “Come Break My Heart Again” — 9/10
“Come break my heart again / So I can feel it / I think you need it / I know you mean it,” the Lone Bellow sings, describing another relationship on the rocks. I can’t tell whether the narrator just wants out of the relationship, or if they’re accepting that it must end so their significant other can be happy again, but I kind of like the ambiguity therein. The melodies on this slow track are sweet and sad, and the strings on the choruses and bridge are yet again a strong suit.
5. “Feather” — 8/10
This track is already off to a good start after just the first five seconds, simply because the first two notes remind me of Bowling for Soup’s unforgettable jam “1985.” However, bizarre musical echoes that bounce around my head aside, this is a really great tune. While the lyrics are a little cryptic, this track seems to focus on finding the silver lining to your troubles. The up-tempo track has really rich instrumentation with bold bass lines and excellent piano accents.
6. “Walk Into a Storm” — 8/10
“Walk Into a Storm” is like a more optimistic version of Bruno Mars’ “Grenade.” “I’d walk into a storm with you, / Let the wind dance with our home with you, / Let the lightning break our bones with you, / Oh I’d walk into a storm,” lead vocalist Zach Williams sings. Yet while both Williams and Mars recount what they’d do for love, while Mars sings solo and complains that his love “won’t do the same,” Williams is joined by Kanene Donehey Pipkin on the chorus. Because the duo harmonizes on the chorus and sing of a tumultuous relationship, this track becomes one that describes a mutual, reciprocal relationship, rather than the one Mars faces that leaves him out in the cold, catching grenades for his apathetic, ungrateful lover. With this lyrical complexity, a really solid bass line, and beautiful harmonies, “Walk Into a Storm” is a success.
7. “Time’s Always Leaving” — 5/10
This track attempts to be an up-tempo rock jam, but the melodies and harmonies weren’t interesting enough for me to want to hear this jam go on for much longer. The bridge was the most interesting part of the track with a twangy guitar riff, but overall, as I listened to this track I just felt my time leaving me.
8. “Can’t Be Happy For Long” — 8/10
“Can’t Be Happy for Long” tells the story of someone plagued by restlessness and dissatisfaction. With groovy chords, nice syncopated rhythms, and warm guitar riffs, this track of discontent will leave you feeling just the opposite.
9. “Between the Lines” — 9/10
“Between the Lines” is a lovely track that refutes the notion that you need bad times to appreciate the good. “What I need to tell you / You don’t need the hurt, / To make something you love / To tell you what you’re worth…You and I were made to stand up straight / And read between the lines,” Pipkin and Williams sing. This clever track essentially urges us not to relish in the hard times, thinking it will better us, but to push forward and embrace the good times.
10. “Long Way to Go” — 9/10
This slow piano ballad ends Walk Into a Storm on a quiet, reflective note. Singing of the difficulties of life, but concluding that “the dawn is breaking low, Burning a hole in the night,” this hopeful track has beautiful lyrics, interesting melodies, and unsurprisingly impeccable harmonies.
Ultimately: 7.5/10
This album definitely has some high notes, with “Deeper in the Water” and “Long Way to Go” rising above the rest. However, almost every track is a solid jam, with only “Time’s Always Leaving” leaving me underwhelmed. This third release from The Lone Bellow is not one to miss, so go find their music on iTunes or Spotify. You can also learn more about the band and their ongoing tour at their website, The Lone Bellow.
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