Band : Blue October
Album title : Approaching Normal
Label : Universal Motown
Distribution: Universal Records
Release Date : 24/03/2009
Release : CD

This band was already founded in 1995 by lead singer/guitarist/songwriter Justin Durstenfeld, his brother Jeremy and multi-instrumentalist Ryan Delahoussaye.  Their first album “The Answers” was realesed in 1998 and was rather well recieved (it sold 5000 copies in Houston alone); In 1999 the were signed to Universal Records for the release of  their second album “Consent to Treatment”, but were dropped by  Universal in 2002.
Now I must admit I’d never heard of  them before, even though they appeared on some famous TV shows (The tonight show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O’Brian - but unfortunately these are channels I can’t receive here) but also because up to now their tours were restricted to Texas and parts of the Mid- and Southwest.  This has changed however, and they are now touring the entire continental United States, and adding some gigs in other countries as well (France, England, Canada, Germany and even The Netherlands).
This album, their fifth studio album, was produced by Steve Lillywhite (UW, Peter Gabriel, Dave Matthews Band).
Music wise.  Well, their melancholic songs are sometimes compared to have vocals similar to Peter Gabriel, but I don't agree with this.  In their more upbeat songs some media compare them to U2 and sometimes Pink Floyd or Genesis, but again, I don't agree. Personally they sometimes remind me of  Day Of Fire.
The texts are for a great deal "down to earth", by which I mean they treat a lot of everyday life.

80/100

Erik Morre.