Secondhand Serenade – Awake

With acoustic singer songwriters slowly becoming making a comeback in today’s underground, Secondhand Serenade seem to be trying to enter the scene at just the right moment. With performers like Dave Melillo, Ronnie Day and The Spill Canvas slowly garnering exposure, it’s not so rare anymore to hear acoustic emotional songs on compilations or on the radio. But still, it’s normally hard for a solo artist to really take off and keep it acoustic. Even Dashboard Confessional has gone electric, but many people will still say that Chris Carrabba’s older material was the band’s best. I’m guessing Secondhand Serenade‘s John Vesely would agree with that concept, because on his debut album, Awake, he pretty much copies the exact style and sound that Carrabba used to break into the mainstream a few years ago.

While none of his guitar playing is quite as intricate or enticing as Carrabba’s, his vocals are a perfect replica. They are delivered in the same off-tone manner, in a whispery voice that is passionate without being that strong and is pretty much asking for you to sing along with him. Whatever your feelings were/are for The Places You Have Come To Fear The Most, you’ll have the exact same feeling for Awake.

Lyrically, Vesely caters to the love-crushed teens, as every song is a love song full of lines that will soon be plastered on MySpace profiles and MSN names. Take the lyrics from Vulnerable for example, “I was born to tell you I love you / it’s that a song already / I get a B in originality / and it’s true I can’t go on without you / your smile makes me see clear / if you could only see in the mirror what I see.” Or the title track’s lyrics, “I will share the air I breathe, / I’ll give you my heart on a string, / I just don’t wanna miss anything.” Neither are extremely inventive, like they said, they get a B in originality; but for the love strung teen they’ll hit the perfect nerve – and sometimes that’s just what you want.

There is nothing wrong with this album; but at the same time there’s nothing outstanding about it either. Vesely is a strong musician, his vocals can become a bit tiresome, but if you like Carrabba’s voice then you’ll like this. If you missed the rise of Carrabba six years ago and are just entering those love struck years, then Awake is the album for you. If not, then Awake will just be a passing fling. Strong enough for a few listens, but unless you can connect to Veselys lyrics, it won’t be a lasting release.