Preludes

"Preludes" is a result of maturation musically and openness. From beginning to end it progresses like one changing season to the next, where things commence only to grow more refined with new colors. Opening with “Wrecking Ball,” a song that typifies the sound of IWTDI – strong guitar riffs and anthem heavy singing. He sings “I may hate myself but I hate you all so much more” and makes it meaningful and sweet yet tinged with acid. “Control” is Hirsh’s song but with Booker singing background vocals. It and especially “Regulators” continues to prove what a great combination they are vocally – Hirsh as ethereal power vocalist and Booker’s guttural one-two punch as both rock singer and crooner (check out album highlight “Out Tonight”). The album boasts new directions, and grace, with “All Get Lucky” but more on “Fight/Flight” and “The Key & The Rose” which finds Hirsh singing more in the vein of Dido or Shea Seger than the prowess she’s exuded with IWTDI. Hirsh broadens herself with fantastic results in song that’s piano heavy and enhanced with tense drumming. The song reveals itself to be a new world for the band’s sound, notably in its ambiance and the injected lightning guitar riffs.

　　IWTDI benefits greatly from having two singers. Booker or Hirsh would be exemplary alone in separate bands, but together in IWTDI it makes for something unique, not just as songwriters working together but their blending of vocals. The combination takes things up several notches, like a band that incorporates a horn section – it becomes something else altogether. Preludes highlights their workmanship together, illustrating all of its strengths and as a necessary coupling. The album is an energetic blend of 80’s melodies and New Wave flavoring with indie rock. It smartly houses ten tracks and the result is a fast moving collection that doesn’t rest easy, and when it does slow down, keeps things engaging.