Music Review: Glen Hansard's Rhythm and Repose

When you have the opportunity to get a listen of a great artist's album for free then you take it, and NPR is offering just that. Last year while watching, Once I discovered the music of Glen Hansard, and his many other projects. He's proven his talent in acting, and in music with his bands, The Frames, and The Swell Season. Now he's setting out to introduce his solo work in Rhythm and Repose.

The most powerful part of this album is the fact that Glen Hansard's passion for his music spills over while listening to it. Everything from the lyrics, to the composition, you can tell he deeply cares for what he conveys through it.  For someone feeling the way I am now, it was very needed.  Everything from heartache to hope he shares in one album all with a tinge of cautiousness.

Each song you can tell has been tailored to be an experience on it's own. You feel like you are living a masterpiece with each one.  I can't remember any song that sounded like the other. I have no idea how Hansard has climbed so much into the human heart to pull out the most private pieces of it to share with everyone. He seems to know what to say though. If there has anything else that has captured me about this album it's how Hansard voice sounds when the songs pick up. He sounds like he is pouring out everything to sing. His voice is one of the more powerful ones in music today.

Rhythm and Repose has songs mostly for those days that are a little blue, but it has tunes to encourage you along when the days are going good also. If nothing else, Hansard will coax you along when you are at your loneliest feelings that you think no one else could feel. He somehow brings to light a common unifying tone for any listener. Whether you are listening for the sound of the music, Hansard's voice, or the way the lyrics move you, anyone can find something in this album that will find leave you listening again. Check out the album next week when it releases next Tuesday, June 19th.

Rating 5 of 5.