The lyrics on Artistic
Differences are so enunciated and properly pronounced, if you guessed this
was either a British or an American band, you wouldn’t be mocked. These guys
have more than likely studied their progressive rock history, perhaps all the
way back from Genesis and Emerson, Lake & Palmer to the present, which
means they have their chops down cold.
The ten songs collected on this album all seem to touch
upon philosophic concerns. The opener, “Love You Back,” struggles with the
inequity of being loved, yet – for whatever reason – not loving that person
back. Then on “Superstar (I Want Out),” vocalist Johannes Stole puts himself in
the shoes of somebody imprisoned by the trappings of fame, wondering how to somehow
get out, Houdini-like.
Musically, these songs are played as crisply and cleanly
as they are sung. Maybe it’s the Norwegian in them, but unlike messy, unkempt
American indie rock, these instrumental parts are all put in their proper
places. At times, this can be a little like visiting Mr. and Mrs. Clean’s house;
a home where it doesn’t appear as though real humans actually live there.
Instead, it’s like visiting a model home and being really tempted to eat the
waxed fruit because it looks so darn tasty. Musical perfectionism has always
been a black mark on the progressive rock genre. There’s just something
thrilling about giving into the illusion that the CD your listening to is
actually being played for the first time -- right before your very ears. Sure,
your intellect tells you tracks were painstakingly prepared. Yet you suspend
disbelief for the aural thrill of it. Yes, Artistic
Differences is good. So good, though, it’s difficult to shake the thought
that robots weren’t also involved in its creation.
3/5 Stars
Key
Tracks: Mrs. Hero, Love You Back, Superstar (I Want Out)
Dan MacIntosh MuzikReviews.com Contributor
December 5, 2012
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