  As
a former a cappella man myself (shout out to the George Washington
University Troubadours), I was excited for the opportunity to review
For Show, the latest live album from Eclipse - and I was not disappointed.
Eclipse, a well-known and respected six-man vocal group, have made
themselves a household name in Utah through their rigorous performance
and recording schedule, having released an impressive string of four
albums in the past four years.
For
Show is Eclipse's first full-length live album, and it showcase
not only the immense vocal talent of each of the group members,
but it also picks up on the energy, humor, and personality that
they bring to their live shows, and it's not hard to understand
why they are so well received. With insane vocal beat-box percussion
(how does he do that?), tight vocal harmonies, and a great mix of
well-known cover tunes and original songs, this is certainly an
enjoyable album.
So,
first of all, let's discuss the cover songs. I am a believer that
when covering a song, it should be similar enough to the original
to be recognized, but it should also be different enough to make
it interesting. That being said, I was very impressed with most
of the cover songs on this album, particularly "Owner of a
Lonely Heart" and "Boom! Shake the Room" (though
I was disappointed that the stuttering verse in the original Will
Smith version was left out of the Eclipse arrangement). Though a
couple of covers, like "If I Ever Fall in Love," sounded
too much like the original to keep me attention through the entire
song.
Second,
let's discuss the original songs. I was pleasantly surprised by
the quality of the songwriting, lyrics, and musical arrangement
of a vast majority of the songs. They really highlight the quality
of musicianship present in all of the members of Eclipse. "Live
It On Up" opens up the album with high-octane energy and "Kick
Back, Relax" shows that even white Mormon boys can get their
rap on.
The
members of Eclipse successfully traverse through a number of musical
genres and show that showcase the vocal dexterity of all six members
of the group. So, all in all, I give a hearty "thumbs up"
to this live effort from the boys of Eclipse. If you are a fan of
a cappella music, you will certainly find much to your liking here.
------------------------
Chris
Hartwell
|
