One Cell in the Sea – A Fine Frenzy

7.5/10

I picked up One Cell in the Sea on a whim, looking for something new to listen to and intrigued that the sticker on the album had “Haunting” on two of the three descriptions. So, why not give it a listen?

There’s a definite kiss of pop veneer on the album, just enough to catch your ear, but not so bubblegum that it becomes overwhelming or irritating. Without pigeonholing in a negative way, it would fit well on easy listening playlists. Alison Sudol’s vocals are light and airy and the music behind the vocals is largely subdued. It’s not in-your-face in any way, actually it’s extremely relaxing. I’ve listened to it 5-6 times while at work and it hasn’t distracted me from getting things done. Actually, that could be as much a blessing as a curse. It sits quietly in the background and doesn’t push its way into the forefront of my consciousness.

Sudol’s lyrics are extremely melancholy, focusing on lost love and broken dreams (Exceptions to this rule include “You Picked Me,” taking the point-of-view of a shy girl thanking her love for finding her and presumably bringing joy into her life). “Almost Lover” is easily my favorite song on the album. Singing of a “hopeless dream”, “luckless romance,” and “heartache” Sudol makes you fall apart alongside her. Other notable standout tracks include “The Minnow and the Trout” and “Rangers,” the album’s first single.

Overall, A Fine Frenzy’s debut is a strong one and will hopefully generate enough buzz to convince Virgin to release future albums by them as well. For those who purchase a physical copy of the album, you can visit the band’s website with the cd in the drive to download 5 demo tracks and 5 video files (4 live in-studio performances and the official video for “Rangers”). Definately nice extras.