Alternative pop/rock with lyrical substance
Tintern Abbey is an alternative pop rock band from Mansfield, Ohio. They're overall sound is reminiscent of a less bass driven All Together Separate and more indie sounding vocals. That's not the best description, but it's the best that I've been able to come up with.
Anyway, their record Cavalcade is full of introspective and vulnerable lyrics that are often worshipful. This may lead one to think they would fit well into CCM, and while this may not be incorrect, I see Tintern Abbey's sound transcending over the typical CCM kitsch.
Musical highlights include the panned guitar riff and expressive horns of Cavalcade's opener, "Shotgun," "Unraveled," and its lyrical imagery with a strong vocal performance. Though the album is done well for the most part, it feels like it's missing something. Most of the tracks blend into each other after repeated listens, leaving a little to desire.
Overall, the songs have subtle melodies that don't shove a big guitar riff in your face, but gracefully follows the emotion of each song.
2.5/4
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2005Reviewed by Jonathan AvantsTintern Abbey's debut release may seem like another unspectacular Christian alternative pop band on the surface, but there's a moderate amount of left-field flourishes and stylistic shifts to make this debut a worthy showcase for Tintern Abbey's potential to become an interesting acoustic pop act. The songwriting within Cavalcade remains fairly strong in its twelve song cycle with many pretty…Similar sounding releases
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