I've heard from many people different opinions on The Devotees. Some really don't like them, some really do. Up until last week they only offered a live show performance of their music and I wasn't willing to judge the bands art until I heard the entire expression.

I am only one person, so my opinion on the matter of "cool" music means very little in the grand scheme of things. I do, however, fancy myself one with an ear for a good tune and brains to realize the difference between a band riding a trend wave and a band marching to it's own beat. Albeit, some trends are not void of good music on the mere merit that it is more than a trend. Point and case. Do you have an iPod?

The Devotees do not fall prey to senseless trends like most "musicians/bands" in the area who desperately and pretentiously try to assert their amazing ability to the shittiest band in a 100 mile radius. The Devotees don't concern themselves much with the hub-bub of what music is trendy, shitty, good or bad, but rather they attempt to construct a story with their first self supported album titled Further From Home.

This is an album review and not a live show review, but I will illustrate to you what the album did for my opinion of this band. Prior to it I encountered the band in various formats. The band has many instrumentalists functioning as one but not all their performance featured the full ensemble. I would see them here or there and was generally interested. I heard a song or two from various performances and immediately decided I didn't want to hear more as it may make me write them off. I wasn't really captivated by the idea of their music as I thought I would. The songs never really reached out did anything for me. I was okay with that. At least they weren't up there on the stage night after night masturbating away on their instruments like the other bands do in this town. No one wants to see that. Well, if you are from the tri-jock area you do, and you take part.

This album changed what was shaping up to be a band that I'd soon forget. I even dragged my feet on listening to it and it was passed off to me some time ago. The first track started playing and I listened. It was produced well. Things sounded in place. I wasn't expecting much. The track began to conclude with a change in the emotional tone of the music as it reached its dramatic climax and then rescinded into the next track. I was rather taken by the emotional explosion that happened. It made me eager to hear what was next.

As I listened to each track examining, not only their musical quality, but it's emotional impact I found it quite satisfying. Maybe it was because I was driving and the music and scenery melded into one experience. What ever it was it was good. From the way Jenna Barvitski's voice breathed through the speakers, the emotive horns to march of the snare lead by Dave Buker. It was all good things. I was surprised. Maybe I shouldn't be so quick to judge next time.