Hozier - Hozier

Why would you name an album after yourself? Vain.

Yeah, so this does go. I will say though, I find myself in the strange position of thinking this album is very good artistically, but I can't say I like it very much. And...I'm not exactly sure why.

We can give much credit, as there's lots of it due. I very much enjoy Andrew's voice in general, and this album displays it very well. It also highlights the natural way his voice blends with a gospel/choral shape. A shape that the album leans on heavily. I don't use the word "lean" in a negative sense (suggesting it's being used as a gimmick), but stating simply that the motif is used so heavily that it turns itself into a core concept of the album.

There's great, poetic songwriting here, which is an aspect of Hozier many have come to enjoy. I agree that it's lovely lyrically and melodically. Some of the choral harmonies especially are very evocative and exciting.

I guess, then, it looks very much like there isn't anything to gripe about. And yet...it just isn't for me.

I have considered that it's actually a problem of the album being too slow. Because, though I don't dislike slow music by any means, a medium tempo sustained throughout an album can deter me from "going in" the same way I would "go" for something a little more ferocious.

Other than that I can't think of much. Maybe it's not deep enough in the pocket? I don't know. Which is disappointing to me. I wish that I could say "I don't care for it and here's why". Ya know, as I'm SUPPOSED to do as a reviewer. But sometimes words elude me. In this case, my mild opinion of this album is something that I cannot quite express. Alas.

Beautiful. Kind. Faint.

Arbitrary 6.0