When a record is evenly split between indifferent and objectionble, you wouldn't think I'd have anything nice to say - but I do! The opener "Song For Someone" does have nice guitar with a nice fat sound, and it's not a bad song. "Falling Slowly" has similar good points, and is actually a pretty song. I've never seen the movie Once, but it's hard not to run into a clip of this song from the movie, and I'd say the film's version is better. The problem is that every song is sunk by an over-dramatic vocal delivery by Glen Hansard. Take the least-rocking elements of Coldplay, substitute vocals constantly howled as if on the edge of tears for wanker Chris Marten, voila. "When Your Mind Is Made Up" is evocative in some cinematic way, but only if it's a crappy movie with Meg Ryan. The most interesting track is probably the title song, which is very heavy and very minor, like a very depressed Pearl Jam.
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