OREGON

You can't go wrong with either of NICE BEAVER's studio albums. While I do prefer the debut it really is a toss up as both are excellent.This the second effort is more mature sounding, more serious but there's no doubt it's the same band. Fred Trafton ("GEPR") says the guitar frequently reminded him of RUSH, which reminded me of this 30 something guy coming in the store while this was playing and asking me if I was listening to RUSH. I had to tell him "No, it's NICE BEAVER (haha)". He wrote down their name. I didn't think he would need to (haha).

"Nights In Armour" is dark to open with strange sounds. Some atmosphere here as the marching style drums with synths roll in. It's building. A full sound before 2 1/2 minutes sounds like CAMEL, riffs follow. Then the CAMEL-like guitar led section returns. It settles before 4 1/2 minutes with some nice bass and keys. It kicks back in before 6 minutes, mellotron follows. Vocals for the first time after 7 minutes with violin.Themes are then repeated. "Morphine" opens with the sound of crickets. Percussion joins in before the music kicks in around a minute. Great sound 1 1/2 minutes as it turns powerful. Vocals before 2 1/2 minutes, mellotron a minute later as it settles some. Contrasts continue. "Any Other Day" is more relaxed as vocals come in with light drums and bass. It gets fuller. Contrasts continue. Mellotron 2 1/2 minutes in with some nice guitar to follow. "Oregon" has this heavy intro with background synths. Vocals before 1 1/2 minutes as it settles. Contrasts continue. The tempo picks up 3 minutes in. Great sound !

"The Beaver State" sounds like 80's FLOYD with the atmosphere and guitar. It kicks in before 3 minutes then settles back as contrasts continue. Huge bass 4 minutes in. "Two Brides For Two Brothers" is dark with reserved vocals, background synths and a beat. Tasteful guitar 2 minutes in. Spoken words 4 minutes in. It settles after 7 minutes. More spoken words after 10 minutes. "Love On Arrival" opens with synths as percussion and vocals join in. Riffs with chunky bass come and go. Then it kicks in. Nice. Great sound after 4 minutes. "Lawn Mower's Day Off" opens with reserved vocals and a relaxed sound. It's fuller 1 1/2 minutes in. I like the emotional vocal cry before 4 1/2 minutes.The tempo picks up. It sounds like aboe after 6 minutes. Piano too. Waves crash over and over 9 minutes in to the end.

Not as fun or uplifting as the debut but I like this an awful lot.