Something With Numbers -Engineering The Soul

Mon 29th Sep, 2008 in Music Reviews

Something With Numbers seem to have flown under the radar a bit, with people appearing oblivious to the band until, of course, you mention the hit single Apple of the Eye (Lay Me Down). This is where their strength lies: catchy, beat-driven tracks. You would assume that the guys would take this sound and develop it but instead the new album, Engineering the Soul, sees the band venture further away from their original musical direction.

Where their previous album, Perfect Distraction, still had a bit of a raw and slightly edgy feel to it, the new album is much more polished. It’s a noticeable deviation from their pop-punk roots into the more marketable pop-rock arena.

Change in direction aside, there are a few standout moments on the album, including the first single Stay With Me Bright Eyes, which is pure, radio friendly, pop-rock perfection. All the ingredients are there. Memorable hooks, lyrics that burrow their way into your head and with a glimpse of that signature Something With Number’s foot-tapping beat. Oh, and don’t forget the hand claps. What good pop song is complete without hand claps?

Heavier guitar work on tracks such as This Will Be The Last Time are used to lay the foundation for the rock-inspired sound. This works well alongside frontman Jake Grigg’s vocals, which manage to meander through soft soothing ballads as well as more commanding tracks with the greatest of ease. And he is certainly not afraid to use these vocals to deliver cute yet slightly corny lyrics such as, “If you were the melody then I would be the song.”

Closing out the album is I’ll Be There, which shows glimpses of intrigue but ultimately leaves you feeling that it could have been more. Jake’s voice backed solely by piano is beautiful, yet the song never really goes anywhere. It lacks any kind of build-up or direction.

Overall this feels like a good summer-time album, one that you can enjoy for its light and uncomplicated sound. It doesn’t challenge you too much and while it may only be on rotation in your stereo for a short period of time, it serves its purpose of fun enjoyable tracks as a background to those lazy days in the sun.

With all these things considered, Engineering the Soul is not a bad album. It’s just not a great album either. I can’t help but think that while it may be enjoyed by the pop-rock devouring mainstream audience, fans of the original, punk-inspired Something With Numbers may be a tad disappointed.