O.A.R. - All Sides CD Review

(Music review by Paula Felps as posted on Walmart.com)

About The Album

For its sixth album, O.A.R. decided to call on a wider range of influences and interests than the band's previous discs hinted at. Appropriately called All Sides, this adventurous collection of cuts shows a depth and breadth to the Maryland band that goes beyond what they've shown before.

A decade of performing together has given them plenty of experiences to draw from, and they pull out all the stops this time around. The tuneful, lightly rocking "This Town" gets it started, showing very faint traces of the reggae influences that have seasoned their previous efforts. As an album opener, this soaring track absolutely works, hooking the listener immediately and opening the door to a panoply of sounds. (If the song seems a little familiar, that's because "This Town" picked up a lot of airplay on ESPN during the NCAA Division 1 Baseball Tournament and College World Series.)

The first single, "Shattered," completes the one-two power punch that starts this album. Completely radio-friendly, "Shattered" just might be the best song this band has recorded to date. It's poppy and endearing, and at times feels a little bit like The Fray. It sticks in your ears and makes you want to keep hitting "repeat;" there's a lot to love about this song, and it grows on you even more with each listen.

If you can bring yourself to move on past those two dynamic opening tracks, there are more great surprises in store. The rockin' little "Try Me" feels loose and free, and its lyrics about offering a safe shelter from life's emotional storms are both touching and uplifting. There's a breath of freshness to this track that's more easily felt than explained, and it leads nicely into "One Day," which sees a relationship falling apart.

There's a great groove to "Something Coming Over Me," and it evolves unexpectedly into a Stevie Wonder-flavored track that celebrates love. It's a definite ear-grabber, and the boys do a remarkable job of combining some old influences for a new sound.

The band gives in to its reggae/ska tendencies on "What Is Mine," then the easygoing "Dinner Last Night" displays a remarkably thoughtful track about finding that safe place in someone else's heart. O.A.R. then gets completely in touch with its rootsy side on "The Fallout." As disparate as the sounds may seem, they're brought together in a beautifully seamless way that works incredibly well.

One of the most powerful tracks is delivered near the end of the disc with "War Song." Neither for nor against war, it simply recounts the experience of a soldier and reflects the band's observations after visiting Iraq and Kuwait. It's personal and moving, and puts a human face on a military operation.

All Sides may come from a lot of different directions, but it comes together in one well-packaged album that feels intensely personal. The band shows an impressive range, both musically and emotionally, and the stellar songwriting only complements the fantastic delivery of this fresh bundle of music.

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