the lost patrol

songs about running away

'Why are albums so hard to define as either good or bad? A black-and-white answer seems like such a simple thing to give. Buy this album. Don't ever listen to this person's music again. This is the info we want to know. It's what we want to be told. But there are too many variables. Each album is approached differently, depending upon what previous work this artist may have done, what other people have said and even what the cover may look like. There are an infinite number of different factors that play into an initial yes/no response to an album.

In Dennis Lyxzen's case, his band credentials play a big factor in the way "Songs About Running Away" will be perceived. He first made his mark as a vocalist in the seminal post-hardcore band the Refused. The band was very cutting-edge. Their music crossed over multiple genres and was evenly tempered with Lyxzen's vocals. To put it simply, their sound was hard. Then, he moved to The International Noise Conspiracy, which aligned itself with old soul and R&B music. They rocked out when necessary but let their short guitar licks and full rhythms play the most prominent role in their songwriting.

Now, with "The Lost Patrol," Lyxzen tries the man-with-an-axe, stripped-down route. These songs do occasionally hint at TINC's repertoire but it's particularly well-suited for coffee shops and other such mellow settings. It's got that slow-is-the-new-fast vibe tattooed across it.

That's very minimalist of you, Dennis. Where do you go from here, a capella? Gregorian chant?

One thing can be verily stated, this is a long way from his days in the Refused. Whether the music is boring or a perfect and logical progression is up to you to decide.