Well, here’s something good. Sometimes you put in a CD not expecting much and come away completely and utterly impressed with an artist that you wouldn’t have give the time of day in your previous life as a non-music reviewer. But luckily, I not only have the opportunity to listen to great indie music myself, but I also have the opportunity to expose others to the great artists nobody has heard of. Aaron English is perhaps one of the best undiscovered artists in today’s music world. And before you write me off as a crazy, ignorant college kid, go find some audio clips of English’s music for yourself, I’ll wait…
English, a Seattle-based musician who incorporates world-beat rock with alternative with the ever-present early 90s grunge that is oh so difficult to escape in the Northwest, has created a style of his own that is difficult to classify. I’m tempted to call it pop/rock, but then you might get the wrong idea. This isn’t John Mayer or the Fray…it’s Aaron English, and it’s difficult to explain to one that has never heard it before.
English co-produced The Marriage of the Sun and the Moon – which is his sophomore follow-up to All the Waters of This World – with veteran producer Don Gunn, and you can definitely hear his voice on this album. Each song is so filled with passion that it moves me to listen to it.
My favorite song on this CD is the title track. English does such a great job infusing so many types of music that it is mind-boggling. It’s almost jazz, almost arena rock, almost grunge, almost pop, and it can only be summed up in one way: it’s all the way Aaron English. The next-best track is “Weeping Wind,” which is so dark and bright at the same time that it makes me wonder how English did it.
Another key song is a cover of The Police’s “Message in a Bottle.” This song has been covered many a time before, but I think this could be the best version I’ve heard since Sting first belted out the tune in 1979 (yes, even better than John Mayer’s version, as crazy as that sounds).
The bottom line is that if you are looking for good music, your search is pretty much over.. go out and give The Marriage of the Sun and the Moon a try today!
