Blue October - Approaching Normal

Blue October - Approaching Normal

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Blue October - Approaching Normal

“Blue October abandons the downbeat themes that colored its platinum Universal Motown debut, “Foiled,” and readjusts its perspective to appreciate an existence that’s “Approaching Normal.” But dark thoughts still cloud lead singer/songwriter Justin Furstenfeld’s mind, and he fearlessly airs them as he dishes revenge on an enemy on “Dirt Room” and confesses to the havoc his former bad habits wreaked on the discordant “Weight of the World.” Producer Steve Lillywhite hones Blue October’s penchant for emotive playing and tight rock chops. From note one, the hook, melody and tempo of the upcoming single “Say It” screams “hit”—one that will surpass the significant crossover impact of the band’s breakthrough song, “Hate Me.” Mighty is the act that mixes lullabies to children (”Blue Does”) and plucky life affirmations (”Jump Rope”), follows them with the tale of a jealous ex-husband’s murderous rage (”The End”) and walks away with credibility intact. “Approaching Normal” could be called “Nearing Excellence.” —Christa L. Titus”

Blue October - Dirt Room

Different sound from “Blue October”, but a decent track. 7/10

Click below to listen (not the original video)

Blue October Expands Reach On New Album “Approaching Normal”

Blue October plans to “go global” with its fifth album, “Approaching Normal,” according to bassist Matt Noveskey.

“We want to go international,” Noveskey tells Billboard.com, adding that the plan will be in motion in January when the quintet group flies to Europe for a 10-day promotional swing after it films the video for new single “Dirt Room.”

“It’s real exciting because the last record (2006’s platinum ‘Foiled’) did real well here (in the U.S.) and just never really got that chance (in Europe). One thing we all said was, ‘Man, the next record, we’ve got to go global,’ so right off the bat as part of our campaign we’ll go over and start making a splash overseas.”

“Approaching Normal,” which was produced by Steve Lillywhite and recorded at Willie Nelson’s Pedernales Studios near Blue October’s home base of Austin, Texas, is due March 24 from Universal. Noveskey says that while frontman Justin Furstenfeld remains the chief songwriter, this album “was more of a group effort where we all got together and worked up a lot of these songs from scratch. It made us feel good as a team. There’s a lot of camaraderie on this record.”

Noveskey says the dynamic range of the album is more “dramatic-slash-theatrical” than its predecessors and spans “from the saddest, most depressing moments to the happiest, most joyful moments we’ve ever done.” “Approaching Normal” includes studio versions of older fan favorites such as “Kangaroo Cry” and “Graceful Dancing” and will also come out in explicit and “clean” versions, each containing a different bonus track.

Once the album’s out, Noveskey says Blue October plans to “tour like we always do … big time. We’re gonna be relentless. It’s gonna be a lot of work and it’ll be tough being away from our families, but we’re gonna work very hard.”