It's like the neighbors left their blinds open. "Any Man In America" is the hand in hand journey as Justin rides the emotional roller coaster of his failed marriage and the painful role of father in its separation. The title song bashing the legal system on its favoritism toward women in custody issues and giving Furstenfeld a forum to get a few jabs in.
I held off listening to the new album because I was mad at the band. I swear to God the Twitter account was blowing out my blackberry, Non stop promotional babble. First the acoustic release then the press for this new release. It was brutal. I'm an idiot, what was I waiting for?
With every song this band produces I cant help but become more emotionally attached to the words. Furstenfeld is no sniveling man wailing the 'poor me's" for his misfortunes, he's a ' fuck you' to the whole situation. Showing maturity and bravery as he throws back the blinds on his most personal issues. I wrote earlier of musicians sharing too much information. Shut up and entertain me I believe I said. What differs here is the ability to story tell. A man who can tell his story in a dynamic way isn't self gratifying.
I have to say I'm not sure who told Justin to rap but I suppose a guy gotta do what he gotta do. Its effective in a silly way angry rapping always is. He is trying to get funky in "Money Tree" his lack of soul shows but by then you're already knee deep in lawyers fee's to really care about that. They call these songs 'angst filled love songs", but I ain't seeing the love I'm hearing the anger.
But as the album progresses the original feelings of empathy start to turn to disgust. OK OK OK ,.. the situation was awful and painful and I'm sorry about your child and yes your broken. But now I want to give you some space to heal. There is a bit of discretion that should be used. Like the woman in at the water cooler sobbing about her good for nothing husband, Justin goes from being someone you want to hug and tell 'everything will be fine' to wanting to slap him across the face and tell him to get a grip.
And that happens in a way, as it leads to the single "The Chills", c'mon Son, pull yourself together. "The Worry List", is the divorced fathers tissue puller. This is where he takes his angry and becomes the poor me I hoped I wouldn't hear. As vulnerable as he can be he always was strong. This is Country music with a drum machine and speaking of drum machines, where the hell is Jeremy? One of the greatest drummers has a arm rest of a techno box? What the hell?
I will go to this tour. I want to see how they can pull off this emotional obstacle course after nights of touring. Each time I have seen this band I have literally wept. There is an emotional connection that Justin Furstenfeld is gifted enough to have with his fans, but Im worried now if this will max out the empathy card?
I adore Blue October, I love this 'retarded disfigured clown', I will acquire this as a chapter in their story. But I will close his drapes.
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