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IN REVIEW: EOB - "Earth"


The debut solo record by Radiohead guitarist Ed O'Brien has had a particularly long gestation period; the songs that make up Earth date as far back as 2012, and the variety heard on this record speak to a wide range of influences. Perhaps the most notable jumping-off point for what to expect from Earth is the most club-inspired moments from The Stone Roses or Primal Scream, although there is a tendency for some of the album's songs to travel down disparate avenues. You can hear these sonic journeys in the playful tones of lead track Shangri-La as they explode into its crunchy Brit-rock chorus, then again as the gentle, melodic Brasil unfolds into a thunderous booty shaker at its midway point.

This pair of opening tracks signal an album that's not content being one dimensional; Deep Days continues the adventurousness, owing much of its charm to a rumbling bass and an R&B-inspired beat which propels the song to its simple yet satisfyingly sweet chorus. The mood turns contemplative at its centre, with the organic acoustic sweep of Long Time Coming and the down-tempo, churning Mass, the latter gradually building in intensity and atmosphere. From here, we get the album's most blatant outlier; Banksters sounds like a Hail to the Thief-era rocker, a bitter takedown of the system that doesn't necessarily sound out of time, but it does sound somewhat out of place among the overall feel of the album. It's an especially sore thumb considering it's followed by yet another slow, acoustic slow burn in Sail On.

The penultimate track, Olympik, injects some much needed life into the album as it nears its conclusion; some listeners may be put off by its warbling, Eurodance-inspired beat, but its gargantuan 8+ minute run time allows it to contract and expand, and it eventually turns kind of hypnotic. The album is brought to a close with another acoustic ballad, although this is the strongest of the four on the record; Cloak of the Night finds O'Brien accompanied by Laura Marling for a short, sweet dénouement that makes for a satisfying ending.

That said, there isn't all that much that delivers on the promise of Earth's opening trio of songs; there are pleasant moments, to be sure, but I found myself tuning in and out for much of the album's back section on first listen. I suspect that most listeners will have a similar experience and, though I'd recommend it overall, perhaps it's best recommended with the caveat that it gets very hit-or-miss as it goes.

April 17, 2020 • Over Normal/Capitol
Highlights Shangri-La • Brasil • Deep Days

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