Memorable song lines have a way of grabbing your ear and never letting go, which happens more than once on A Place Where You Belong, by the Normals. "Almost every girl I've ever kissed has married," Andrew Osenga sings at one pivotal moment on "Less Than Love." The lyric continues: "That's not a lot of weddings / But it's sure a crazy thought." Then, on "Innocence," Osenga does it again. "I Miss that simple life / That one that never existed." Up to this point in their musical evolution, the Normals have beautifully morphed into a mixture of the Blue Nile, Del Amitri, and especially U2 -- at their pre-ironic sincerest. The Normals' atmospheric rock mood machine is ably assisted once again here by producer Malcolm Burn (a Daniel Lanois protege). His presence may hold the key as to why much of this music hearkens back to The Joshua Tree-era U2 for its unhurried, wide-open spaces sound. The concept of home, whether literal or spiritual, is a repeated one throughout this project. However, unlike Dorothy at the end of Wizard Of Oz, one can't be wholly certain these guys have found their home sweet home by disc's end. But this album is ultimately all about the journey, rather than the destination.
Editors' ratings - Doug 3.5/5, Jason 3/5
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Bert GanglThe career of Illinois' the Normals, up to this point, has been something of a study in contrasts. The power trio's 1998 debut, Better Than This, was an effort populated, for the most part, by catchy, straight-ahead pop/rock songs bearing a slight alternative rock inflection. Following the departure of bassist Clayton Daily, guitarist Mark Lockett and songwriter/vocalist Andy Osenga recruited…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Jessica HeikoopTheir past two albums got them two Dove Award nominations and a #1 radio hit. Now The Normals are back with their third release, A Place Where You Belong, and, in my opinion, this deserves just as much--if not more--recognition. Taking it down a few notches, A Place Where You Belong takes on a slow, more peaceful sound. Using basic instruments for a majority of the songs (acoustic guitars, piano,…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Josh McConnellAfter releasing their first album in 1998, then their second in 2000, The Normals are back again with their latest release; A Place Where You Belong. But is it as good as their past albums? Consisting of eleven tracks, this soft/pop rock album was a definite surprise to me, I was expecting an album with a little more of a rock edge to it. I heard some clips of it on the Internet, and it sounded…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Matt WilliamsA concept album rarely produces a consistent theme (see Third Day's Come Together), and even rarer yet, does the effort result in great music. Quite often, the effort seems to bombard the listener with a "think about this" mentality and becomes overbearing in its approach. However, the Illinois-based Normals have put together one of the more impressive albums of the new year with their third…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Brian A. SmithThe Normals are a difficult band to classify. Their debut album, Better Than This, was somewhat in the PFR vein, employing singalong pop/alternative rock songs. Coming to Life, on the other hand, had more of a brooding tone that was quite a contrast from its predecessor. A Place Where You Belong seems to be a mixture of these two styles. "Radio" is a fun song about love and driving down the road…The Rebel Base 2001Reviewed by David MartinAre you one of those melancholy, hopeless romantic types who gets homesick easily? Well, come on in and pull up a chair. The Normals would like to welcome you into their humble abode. Okay, well, it's not really their home, but the blue house that graces the cover of the low-key Christian rock band's latest album, A Place Where You Belong, must have been a cozy place in which to record a batch of…Similar sounding releases
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