Blue October

Sometimes it seems that Justin Furstenfeld, the lead singer, guitarist and lyricist for the Houston-based band Blue October, might have been created in a lab. Approaching Normal, the group's fifth studio album, doesn't do much to dissuade that impression. Furstenfeld's rock howl seems perfectly balanced between rage and melody, between raw anger and what's aurally palatable. Many of the band's songs could have resulted from a focus group made up of Nickelback fans. That said, there's a reason Nickelback has been so popular, and Blue October seems headed down the same path, only with a more varied approach and a greater sense of weirdness.

The presence of star producer Steve Lillywhite blurs what could have been more interesting, making many of these songs almost too top 40-ready, but Lillywhite also knows how to shape big vocal harmonies, and there are boatloads of those here. Who says you can't be both angsty and tuneful? "Dirt Room," which is the first single from the record, may be enraged in a fairly disturbing way and full of school shooter-ish lyrics, but its chorus is speedy, catchy and well-turned.

The drums that tend to open each song, set way back in the production, seem a little too signature, and Furstenfeld's intensity doesn't admit much in the way of subtlety or self-regard, but even the skeptical may later find themselves humming the hooky bits. "Kangaroo Cry" is both embarrassing and embarrassingly well put together, and "Jump Rope" is a weird departure, a perky little number run on bongos, strings and a chorus of kids, but it's not uninteresting. Blue October may very well be the next Dave Matthews Band, so you might as well get used to their presence on the scene.

—Hillary Brown
04.24.09

Despite its conventional title, Approaching Normal is Blue October's most puzzling release to date. Frontman Justin Furstenfeld jumps overboard on the bulk of these tracks, from the snarling melodrama of "Weight of the World" (where he sounds like Adam Pascal, the hyperbolic rocker from +Rent) to the bizarre, Smash Mouth-styled bounce of "Jump Rope." He has an unchecked affinity for drama, for the sort of first-pumping grandeur that very few bands can execute, and his angsty self-loathing turns up some priceless nuggets of post-grunge poetry. "I gained 40 pounds because of you!" Furstenfeld howls during "Say It," before announcing his intention to "cover you in ants, bees, and honey, then take your picture for the cover of our album" during the follow-up tune. He even adopts a British accent for "Kangaroo Cry." Furstenfeld's vocal resemblance to Jack Black is more apparent on these tracks than ever before, and Blue October remain aware of their own absurdities. ~ Andrew Leahey, All Music Guide