Aqualung Albums (5)
'Words & Music'
Release Date 10/7/2008
Tracks 10
Label Verve Forecast
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Amiable English singer/songwriter Matt Hales brought his well-crafted, commercially viable adult alternative rock sound over to the United States in 2005 with Strange and Beautiful, a compilation of material from his two U.K. albums that proved as popular overseas as it did in his homeland. A frequent song contributor to popular television shows and films (A Lot Like Love, Gossip Girl, Scrubs, Grey's Anatomy, One Tree Hill), Aqualung's latest offering falls in the same lush, midtempo camp as Keane and Coldplay, while retaining enough self-effacing humor and warmth to avoid the two aforementioned group's penchant for banal pretense. Nearly all of the material on Words & Music operates in the same theater of midtempo balladry that one would expect from an artist who consistently winds up in films like Wicker Park, but like Rufus Wainwright or Scandinavian crooner Sondre Lerch, there's a lightness to songs like "When I Finally Get My Own Place," "7 Keys," and "Good Goodnight" that keeps the proceedings palatable, even as they're disappearing out of the other ear. ~ James Christopher Monger, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Though many records often need a few spins to really sink in, not every record's outcome is worth the time and energy expended to digest its contents. Lucky for Aqualung fans, such is not the case with Memory Man, the follow-up to 2005's acclaimed U.S. debut Strange and Beautiful. This album is worth the time. At first glance, it's basically more of the same elegantly crafted and poignant rock tunage built around gentle piano strokes and Matt Hales' breathy Thom Yorke-ish croon, which is able to convey as much emotion as anything else he does. But Hales, the brains and creative force behind the London-based project, takes significant strides this time around to incorporate new elements into his arrangements, and one glance through just his personal credits (not even considering those of his various collaborators) uncovers a laundry list of instruments and electronic gadgets used. Yet somehow, even these extra additions -- which indeed make for a fuller sounding record -- can't divert the unassuming Aqualung from being exceptionally serene and grounded, at times practically evoking images of floating motionless underwater. Even at his most ambitious, Hales is still pretty straightforward and unable to escape the simple appeal of warm, uncluttered and accessible melodies. Listeners are constantly drawn into the quieter moments of brushed percussion and gentle notes, and re-energized at the sporadic swells of emotion. The swirling and hypnotic buildup of tracks like "Something to Believe In" and the redemptive "Outside" are enough to make Chris Martin blush, while the restrained tension of "Glimmer," especially with the faint horn echoing oh-so-softly in the background, results in a song of understated strength. Paul Buchanan (of Scottish dream pop outfit the Blue Nile) additionally lends transfixing guest vocals to the already beautiful ballad "Garden of Love." So while Aqualung may not be doing anything on Memory Man that is wholly different than all of the Coldplays and Rufus Wainwrights of the world, there is a certain down-to-earth charm inherent in Hales that his peers often lack. This small detail makes Aqualung's music even more appealing and Memory Man an even more rewarding listen. ~ Corey Apar, All Music Guide
'Strange and Beautiful'
Release Date 9/16/2002
Tracks 12
Label B-Unique
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Using the nom de rock Aqualung, singer/songwriter Matt Hales merges material from his two U.K. discs on Strange and Beautiful, his appealing U.S. debut. Vocally reminiscent of Rufus Wainwright and Radiohead's Thom Yorke, Hales' musical approach will likely win converts from fans of the aforementioned. The title track, which gained significant attention after it was used in a U.K Volkswagen commercial, is a compelling piano ballad with enough experimental touches to put it in the company of Coldplay and Keane, but there are equally good offerings like "Brighter Than Sunshine" and "Left Behind." With the former, Hales finds love by surprise ("I didn't believe in destiny") with a Beatles' ballad pace, but it's not all optimism. Devotion turns to devastation on "Falling Out of Love," a jazzy number with a heartfelt delivery. On rare occasion, the material feels sluggish (as with "Tongue-Tied") but by and large, Aqualung's U.S. entry is a breath of fresh air. ~ John D. Luerssen, All Music Guide
