As Tall As Lions – Self Titled

As Tall As Lions was a tough one for me to review. It’s just not really my personal preference when it comes to music to listen to softer mellow stuff that I can almost fall asleep too when I could be listening to something that gives me some energy and makes me want to sing along. There is a time and place for everything though, and occasionally its nice to hear something a bit soothing and subdued that can be played in the background while I’m relaxing. Blending indie rock and pop together seamlessly similar to Coldplay and Keane with soaring vocals over dreamy music, As Tall As Lions are perfect for that mood.

While As Tall As Lions certainly don’t have any edge or grittiness about them, they do have a drive that constantly keeps things moving forward and pushes the songs to deeper or higher heights that will penetrate you to into the clouds. Every song on this album has a relaxed feel to it with softer grooves, sensitive piano and swirling guitars that create a slow building but easy on the ears listening experience. Drifting in and out amongst the delicate flourishing music are the vocals of Daniel Nigro as he passionately and effortlessly glides through his vocal range into falsetto guiding the songs to this beautiful world created in the music. The vocals and music fuse together in a symphony of sound in the sparkling “Love, Love, Love (Love, Love)” and are still able to coincide together on songs like “Ghost Of York“, arguably the most rock song on the album.

The lyrics are often able to capture the mood set within the music noticed in the opener “Stab City” with words like “In some strange way it’s like your never there, You just float by crawling in the air”, that accompany the somewhat depressing sounds of the trumpet, trombone and tenor sax. Even with all the strengths of As Tall As Lions, this album isn’t for everyone as it’s few weaknesses define the album strictly to fans of this type of music. Within my short time of playing this album I’ve already found myself confusing parts of songs because a majority of the album has the same feel and mood throughout. Basically anyone who likes a softer dreamy sound will love this album once it grows on you, but those who just don’t mind the occasional relaxing and laid back song will find this album might wear thin after a few listens.