BINOCULAR

Most people look through binoculars, but now many will be able to listen to Binocular.
Newcomers to the international music scene, Binocular’s self-titled debut release has potential to rise to the top of their genre provided they put slightly more effort at their instrumentals and a lot more effort into lyrics that incorporate a few more verbs and less adjectives.
Overall, their acoustic guitar melodies complemented by soothing male vocals give Binocular their signature style – a unique mixture of bright steel strings strumming to the mezzo-forte tenor of their lead singer. But in contrast to their good instrumental technique, their lyrics are difficult to appreciate due to the lack of content and overuse of synonyms for the word “sad.”
Signed by Maverick Records, Binocular’s first release is a showcase of the typical debut album of a young band with a bit of promise in their music.
Though lyrically weak, their instrumentals are budding with talent. Smooth guitar riffs and bright chords make Binocular’s music fit for mainstream radio and their general sound is appropriate driving music for a Sunday afternoon.
While Binocular may never be compared to the Allman Brothers or Dave Matthews, their style is definitely that of acoustic rock, complete with colorful guitar introductions and lively codas and bridges.
If one listens closely enough, a hint of Sugar Ray, minus the scratchy voice of Mark McGrath, can be found hidden beneath the simple three to four chorded songs. If that is such a good thing, I do not know.
The only downside to Binocular’s music, which can be improved with time and writing workshops at a local community college, is the lyrics.
Unfortunately for Binocular, the lyrics are so bad that they sometimes overpower the good instrumentals. Their attempt at unusual rhyme schemes and overuse of melancholy adjectives offsets the harmonious instrumentals.
Each song seems to follow a “down in the dumps” theme, and though the music itself may seem happy, Binocular fools their listeners with lyrics concerning loneliness and missing that “someone special.”
Sometimes the lyrics become so vague about the depression they are describing that anyone listening might actually fall into a frenzy of laughter because the song has turned into something like a badly written love poem.
For example, in the song “Deep,” the lyrics are of an obviously downhearted persuasion, but the theme of the entire song appears to be uncertain: “So this is what you mean/ And this is how you feel/ So this is how you see/ And this is how you breathe/ Sometimes I know/ Sometimes I go down deep.”
Do you understand? Sounds to me like Pablo Neruda’s first attempt at writing a song of despair after a tiring day and a liter of tequila.
Unfortunately for Binocular, the lyrics are all the same although each song sounds different with regards to the music.
It appears that maybe a few band members relied a little too heavily on the thesaurus and not enough on original ideas; a fourth of the songs on the CD use the same metaphors and phrases when describing love and love lost.
One might want to notify the band of the benefits of creative writing classes and maybe hand them an invitation and directions to the Writing Center on campus. Hey, it might help.
If only the lyrics were better, Binocular could be a hit or at least a nudge.
Even though I did not care to listen to Binocular more times than would be necessary to give them a fair review, I also did not give up on them completely. Perhaps they should just continue their musical careers doing strictly instrumentals and put lyric-writing behind them, or they should at least consider hiring a professional lyricist to assist them in making tolerable music.
Also, a sincerely happy song or two to change the sullen mood of their music might be somewhat appealing to potential Binocular buffs.
It never hurts to sing about a cute puppy or new love every once in a while.
Dear readers, if you have half an hour to spare, do a little charity work and give Binocular a chance. Try them out.
You might need to be in an already-melancholy mood in order to appreciate them, or at least in a mood too lazy that you don’t feel like changing the radio station.
If you can at least respect their instrumental style, you should be able to overcome Binocular’s lyrics (especially if you don’t pay attention to them).
And if it so happens that they grow on you and you like them, do not worry about having to rush to the store to buy the Binocular CD … I doubt they will be sold out.