Blue October's Approaching Normal: Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

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Do you remember how you felt after your first breakup? If you don't right now, take a listen to Blue October's newest CD, Approaching Normal, and chances are it will all flood back to you, passed note sinking feeling and all, because that is what this CD is full of - breakup songs. To call this release emotional is a good start, but to fully diagnose it with bi-polar syndrome would be the most appropriate (and who doesn't love diagnosing celebs and musicians with mental problems). The tracks swing from forgiving and loving to homicidal, and it isn't just the lyrics and music.

Lead vocalist and songwriter Justin Fuirstenfeld and band aren't known for being the most positive mascara wearing boys on the block, and Approaching Normal is chock-full of damaged emotions as well. Like other releases, there are a few more positive songs on the release and they definitely stand out. Their playful song about life's ups and downs, "Jump Rope," is genuine and one of the better tracks on the CD. But I am always a sucker for a group of kiddos singing a chorus; unless it is intended as a spooky, horror movie effect, that is. The song "My Never," where the band sings about loving and longing, is another bright spot on the CD.

Here is where the review has to go downhill. While the release has its good points and songs, it takes a few very scary turns for the worse. For example, every band "with a message" has to have a song about the war, right? Wrong. Unfortunately Blue October has their own, self conscious, attempt at politics and anti-war messages in their song "Kangaroo Cry." The music and the piano is very nicely played, but when they sing, "She had the saddest look I've seen/A kangaroo cried," my hands flew to the iPod wheel and I had to rewind to make sure I heard it right. Yep... a kangaroo cried. Wouldn't a koala bear or a panda bear have been more effective, they are cuter after all? I am not sure; I am just not sure.

A lot of good CDs have that track you always skip past, but when Blue October gets to the song "Blue Does," you more than want to hit skip, you want to rip the song off the CD and give it to another band. Fuirstenfeld's attempt at a Coldplay style, quiet ballad is just awkward and wrong - he is much better at singing with force. The lyrics are great, and the song its self is good, but not for this band. The final song on Approaching Normal is just graphic and disturbing. In the last track, "The End" they describe a murderous, peeping ex-lover's vengeance and you really feel like you need to take a shower - seriously.

The album's first single, "Dirt Room," was released at the beginning of the year and is another redeeming cut off the album, and if you are able to take the good with the bad the release might be worth a listen. Overall, Approaching Normal gets two creepy kids in a window out of five. I will still see their show at The Pageant next week and just hope they don't play "The End" because I am a fan of a lot of their stuff (I will probably sing along a lot, too).