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A very rich and full debut album from Neulore, a Nashville-based duo, comprised of Adam Agin and William T. Cook.  Newly signed to Island Records’ imprint Chop Shop and touring with Ingrid Michaelson (!), these guys sound like they’re seasoned studio pros with the color and texture of this fine album’s production and the quality of the songwriting.  You may have already heard Neulore and aren’t aware of it; the track “Shadow Of A Man” has been used in ABC Television’s “Grey’s Anatomy” so there’s already been ample exposure – which is a very good way to garner interest in Animal Evolve.

“3” opens up the 11 song album; powerful and dramatic, it immediately sets the table for “Shadow Of A Man”, which is (to a degree, predictably) something you would, indeed, hear in a TV or film soundtrack – it just has that kind of feel.  “In The Orchard” is a slower, soulful, tense track with a lot of intricate nuances and great vocal interplay – one of the album’s standouts; “Mercy! (You Need Saving)” sounds like another “soundtrack”-styled track with some country-fied inflections.  “Don’t Shy From The Light” has a late-period R.E.M. slow feel to it; mournful and embellished with strings; “Native Skin” is a piano-driven number with a tight rhythm and a rock-solid rhythm.

A completely enjoyable collection from start to finish.  While I’ve read pieces that consider Neulore to be “neo-folk” or “Americana”, I don’t agree with that – there’s far too much that elevates them from such a classification  Which is fine.  Let them evolve – and give a listen to Animal Evolve.

RECOMMENDED

Animal Evolve is available now.

http://www.neulore.com/#page1

About the Author

Rob Ross

Rob Ross has been, for good, bad or indifferent, involved in the music industry for over 30 years - first as guitarist/singer/songwriter with The Punch Line, then as freelance journalist, producer and manager to working for independent and major record labels. He resides in Staten Island, New York with his wife and cats; he works out a lot, reads voraciously, loves Big Star and his orange Gretsch. Doesn't that make him neat?

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