Columbus has always lacked a distinctive musical sound. The local label Wide-Eyed Collective and their newly released compilation album “Wide-Eyed Collective Showcase No. 1,” featuring all local musicians, shows there is more to the Columbus than just touchdowns.
Featuring hints of rap, folk and alternative rock “Wide-Eyed Collective Showcase No. 1” is a mish-mash of local sound. In total, nine artists fill out the 12-track album.
As many would expect from a small indie label, this album isn’t for pop fans. The songs lack choruses. There are no great hooks. The lyrics aren’t catchy.
The best part of the album is its simplicity – it isn’t over-produced. Each artist brings their own distinctive sound into their songs. The result is an emotional and real album that succeeds more than it fails and gives direction for the Columbus music scene.
The highlight of the album is the soft-voiced folk sounds of Wide-Eyed Collective’s founder Hal Hixson. “Wide-Eyed Collective Showcase No. 1” features two songs from Hixson’s new album, “Base Elements.”
In “Big Dreams and Bad News,” his gentle voice hits all the right notes over a soft, syncopated drum beat and accompanying muted, rhythmic guitars. The sound is simple and liberating with a slight country twang – it’s a journey through music made in the Midwest.
“Magic and the Moon Star,” again showcases Hixson’s talent. His Cat Stevens-like voice gently sings over a soft-picked acoustic guitar as delayed notes echo in the background.
Brilliant pacing sets the band Sheldon Marsh apart in their two featured tracks. With a powerful piano lead, floating melodies, and a wonderfully timed climactic crescendo into pulsating drums, they deliver beautifully on their song, “Surgeon/Patient.”
In “With Contentment” the combination of floating lyrics over thick layered guitars again works well.
Not all the artists on the album fare so well.
Matt Thompson’s two songs showcase his American-like grassroots voice – similar to “O, Brother, Where Art Thou” – but seem to be overly simplified. His song, “Little Black Shadow,” consists of only vocals with no instrumentation and comes as dull and repetitive.
The album is further bogged down by its two longest tracks, Confusion End’s “Do You Plead Guilty?” and Brainbow’s “Beard Nap.”
“Do You Plead Guilty?” is missing a catchy progression or even a chorus to justify its length surpassing seven minutes. Awkward transitions where the music fades out to static then returns are unsuccessful and leave the song disjointed.
Without a chorus or carrying beat in the background, Brainbow’s instrumental “Beard Nap” lacks a definitive direction and is slow developing. The track lingers on and could easily be halved in length.
Although not successful in every song “Wide-Eyed Collective Showcase No. 1” does what it set out to do: showcase the local and diverse musical talents of Columbus.
A distinct city-sound still remains elusive but with local labels like Wide-Eyed Collective, it is at least in good hands.
Jim Baird can be reached at [email protected].
