Blank, Blank, Blank

Good, Good, Good

     

I would first like to preface this review by stating that I am ridiculously obsessed with the band, Wintersleep. That obsession is actually the reason for my discovery of this band. Contrived is made up of the majority of the same canadian geniuses that gather together as Wintersleep (All wintersleep members except for the lead singer). When directed to Contrived with this prior knowledge, I was already expecting to experience similar mastery to that of whom I'm obsessed with. I was pleasantly confirmed. When listening to the album as a whole I definitely hear hints of Wintersleep in the arrangements, but there is enough of a unique quality provided that I'm not left feeling cheated. Granted, at times even the singer sounds eerily similar to Paul Murphy (singer/songwriter for WS), but altogether they remain a satisfying entity of their own. The opening track alone makes it clear that this is not a Wintersleep clone but another band worthy of just as much attention. I would say they're an experimental mix between Coldplay, Radiohead, Arcade Fire, and of course... Wintersleep. More alternative at it's best! I'm the guy you should listen to and I say, "Check them out!" (4 Stars because this album is sadly not long enough.)