THIS IS WASSUP: so many artists have released new albums in these past couple weeks that it has taken me awhile to listen to all of them in the appropriate setting and listening devices. People like Travis Scott, Masego, $uicideboy$, DreamDoll, Mac Ayres, and Hozier. Now, I love Hozier. Let me emphasize. LOVE. Not obsessively or in a stalkerish way, but I listen to his music everyday along with Gucci Mane and Frank Ocean. They are the royalty of my music preferences. That being said, He released a 4 track EP called Nina Cried Power. I would love to go into this album a bit. Would you consider Hozier folk music? Is he Indie? Alternative? I've always considered him to be of Indie flair even though "Take Me To Church" peaked at #2 in The U.S. and top charted in many other countries some years ago (according to Billboard). That's doing alright. I will say that when I first heard the EP all the way through, I was not disappointed in any way. I really liked it. It was short and sweet. Enough and fulfilling. Perfect and left me waiting eagerly for the next full length album to come. It's been a long time since we've gotten new music from him. He did a soundtrack for the Tarzan live action movie. Other than that, nothing else I'm aware of. And now we get this! I'm impatient for more. In the meantime, may we enjoy these soulful lullabies and powerful ballads.
The word brevity comes to my mind when considering this album. I believe it is beautifully sweet, elegant, graceful, passionate, genuine, and bold. It is the shortness of this EP, but the complexity in between the beginning and the end which makes it so meaningful.
The first track alone brings me to tears, listening to the crescendo of the chorus and gentle but fierce lyrics belted so fully. Strangely enough, the faces of the listeners in the Vevo video communicates the overlapping relatedness of each person's personal stories and thoughts as they listen to what we assume is the song. Their expressions change very slightly, but it is a mask covering the undercurrent of narrative. The song continues and some do cry, but it is from the impact of power. Maybe one of the people in the video was named Nina. Who knows. NFWMB I again love, but I also find lyrics slightly startling against the low smooth melody and pitch. This juxtaposition spotlights his genius and artistry, particularly as a musician. Moment's Silence has that ring of his first album. It's feels like rock and indie had a baby and it grew up to model leather jackets. The fourth and final track - Shrike - leaves me speechless every time I hear it. I feel there is an Irish influence with the quick little chord compilation and yodel/quiver sung at certain parts. Hopefully you will know what I am referring to once you listen. There is so much to dissect in this song alone. But really, it's not just one particular song. The whole EP has endless areas to unpack and look at a deeper level. I see this project as something he has made which has a birth and a death. The hope and inspiration in the beginning, the seriousness of intent, the rhythm of life, and the humility of accepting the inevitable end of an adventure. Perhaps. Perhaps not.
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A 20 something passionate about many facets of music: lyricism, melody, visual interpretations, the good stuff Categories
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June 2022
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