Alexi Murdoch Albums (2)
What The Critics Say
Alexi Murdoch's intimate, wintry songwriting dominates this soundtrack, which takes the bulk of its tracks from his breakthrough album, Time Without Consequence. Bob Dylan, George Harrison, the Stranglers, and the Velvet Underground are all awarded one song each, but the emphasis rarely strays from Murdoch's fingerpicked guitar and solemn vocals, resulting in a consistent vibe that almost functions like a movie score. While the songwriter also contributes three unreleased songs to the project, Away We Go is too reminiscent of his existing albums to appeal to most Murdoch fans. Instead, this album caters to those who enjoyed the movie, as it offers up the same brand of wistful contemplation. ~ Andrew Leahey, All Music Guide
'Time Without Consequence'
Release Date 5/23/2006
Tracks 11
Label Razor & Tie
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
After appearing on the soundtrack to the hit TV show The OC, Alexi Murdoch could have easily followed Death Cab for Cutie onto the major label merry-go-round and let a bevy of A&R folks shape him into Next Big Thinghood. Instead, the Scottish singer/songwriter's self-released debut full-length bears haunting similarities to the likes of Nick Drake's Pink Moon, hardly the way to mainstream stardom no matter how many car commercials it inspires. Nearly a third of the album will be familiar to those who already have Murdoch's 2004 EP Four Songs, three-quarters of which is reprised here, including "Orange Sky," the aforementioned small-screen favorite. ("It's Only Fear" is the sole track that didn't make the leap, insuring collector-geek status for the EP.) The remaining eight songs are, in the best possible sense, more of the same, and in the case of the first single "Dream About Flying" and the haunted opener "All My Days," they surpass the older songs. Murdoch's murmuring, Drake-like vocals and John Martyn-style acoustic guitar are at the forefront of the album, with only the most minimal accompaniment. Detractors might dismiss Time Without Consequence as the work of a Cat Stevens for the Garden State generation, but there's a always a place for hushed intimacy and delicate folk-pop singer/songwriters, and Alexi Murdoch fills the bill without the mewling self-absorption of the emo contingent. ~ Stewart Mason, All Music Guide
