Album Details

• Artist: Erez And The End
• EP:
Silent Mountains
• Label: CD Baby
• Year of Release: 2012
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: gwhill on 2012-10-22

 Listening to this set, it seems Dire Straits would be an influence on Erez and the End. The vocals and cool bluesy like sound seems rooted in the same kind of music Dire Straits did at their core. This isn’t like the more commercial era of that group, but rather closer to the blues soaked sound that really served as the basis for both Dire Straits and Erez and the End’s sound.

Some of the guitar playing here is particularly strong. When it solos, it’s melodic and potent. Overall the classic blues based arrangements have some real magic. Whether it’s the bluesy musical textures (nearly every song), Dylanesque acoustic guitars (“Silent Mountains”), harmonica (see “Silent Mountains” again) or old time rock and roll inspired guitar soloing (“For a Little While”), they really nail it on the head here.

If there’s a catching point, it’s the vocals. At their best they are homespun, soulful and oozing with character. At times, though, they wander off key and seem to just miss the mark. Still, the delivery manages to convey both a disconnected, unemotional element and something resembling passion at the same time. It’s the same kind of performance that was in the best Dire Straits tunes. That’s a hard balance to pull off, and when these guys hit it, it’s magic. It should be noted that while they miss the mark at times, they are right on target more often than not.

Silent Mountains shows a lot of promise. It’s not without its problems, but the way this outfit manages to capture bluesy rock and other classic sounds and weave those elements into a tapestry that is familiar, but also bears a unique branding shows a talented and creative bunch. Their instincts are good, if sometimes the delivery falls a little flat. If there were two complaints to be made, it would be that this is inconsistent in terms of the vocals and more music would have been appreciated. All in all, this is a set that shows a lot of promise.

User Reviews and Comments

Review:

on 2012-10-24 redraiderstw Said:

Better days, the first track on the album has a real up-beat tempo with Clapton-style guitar rifts. The song really brings out that 70s blues rock vibe and is apparent throughout the EP. Even the vocals on the song are a little rough and lacking inflection and range in the tone, the lyrics are strong and well composed. I get the whole raspiness of the vocals, but I don't believe Erez has the right sound down yet in my opinion. In "Here in the Dark" there was times I could barely make out some of the lyrics; it almost sounded like mumbling. On the flip side, I did like the guitar solo in this song.

The one song that sorely stuck out to me was "Silent Mountains" and the reason was again the vocals; Erez seems to have no concept of ranging his voice and hits sharps, flats, and in betweens a like he is throwing darts at a board. The lyrics are great, but either another vocalist of some professional help would do the band wonders. The album has a hard time keeping my attention, even after listening to it several times. Even though it is not my usual genre choice, I still can provide constructive criticism that the artist and band can build upon. Have a listen and leave your own review to this artist and let them know what you think; one opinion isn't always right.
Not Rated