The debut album by brothers Ryan and John Hughes titled The Illness Project takes you to another place. Whether you’re on a long ride home or taking a nap lazing around, this album’s lovely-crafted experimental-acoustic-pop will do the soul good. The ambient tempos layered with electronic sounds and acoustic pop textures make the record one to listen to many times to hear each layer and pick up previously missed interludes. The combo of Ryan’s prominent vocals along with John’s backing drumbeats and samples, at times waltz together and other times brush shoulders. The latter gives the record an experimental vibe adding to its intrigue and appeal.
“Softer“ digresses into an experimental acoustic ride with a hypnotic and harmonizing refrain: If I could I would trade my life for a softer heart. Another mid to up-tempo track to watch out for is “Something Bigger “ showcasing Ryan’s vocals which have the sincere textures of a John Mayer when he whispers, and the yearning croon of a Rob Thomas when his vocals dig into cries. “Tuscany“, a dreamy ballad about loneliness, breaks up the experimental nature of the album. The beautiful arrangement of Ryan’s vocals and the piano and organ lines simply work to their advantage. “Among the Birch“, has some memorable pop qualities with its minor progressions. The second half of the song includes harmonies which bring the song to a solemn crescendo, eventually dying in a wallop of drumbeats, but somehow the song’s pop leanings are deterred by the lack of a hook. One of the highlights on the album for me was “1.24.” This ballad showcases the singer’s voice with a lone acoustic guitar and his dominant vocal.
After several listens one wonders where the album’s namesake Illness Project came from. Perhaps it is derived from the record’s introspective journey of emotions. As great as these guys can play and sing, the introspection of the record never really made me quite connect with the music and lyrics. As beautiful as Ryan’s voice might be, the artist is so wound up in his own emotions, as if stuck looking at himself in a mirror of pain. This mirror is never reflected back to the listener so that we can empathize.
Sometimes music doesn’t need lyrics to stand on its own. Songs on this album carry very strong melodic qualities. At times, it seems as if the arrangements really carried the songs throughout the entire album, and lyrics were sprinkled afterthoughts. I could imagine many of these songs being soundtracks to character’s lives on nighttime television shows like The O.C., or Gossip Girl. (Perhaps having these songs as soundtracks would fill in that missing layer of empathy that the listener craves?)
If their debut album is any indication, the Hughes brothers should be able to take their gorgeous arrangements and electronic artistry to that next level and add more lyrical conviction around their introspective sensibilities. If you’re a fan of MatchBox 20′s pop ballads, you’ll enjoy this one minus the experimental interludes prevalent throughout the album.
Reviewed By Michael Morgan
