Hozier – Hozier
5/5
Singer-songwriter Hozier blew up the internet with his breakthrough hit “Take Me to Church” earlier this year. Jump forward to October, and the Irish artist has outdone himself with his debut, self-titled album. Known for his powerful and soulful vocals, and raw, yet polished guitar playing, his debut album is exceptionally breathtaking.
Humming his way into the opening song “Angel of Small Death & the Codeine Scene“, the raw and crunching guitar chords bring a southern folk/blues flavour to the table, and the solo artist’s growling, yet angelic vocals paint a dark layer overtop the music.
“Jackie and Wilson“ is the right amount of soul and blues blended together. The song’s chorus is an irresistible hook, and the added support of a band goes a long way. Swinging piano chords, backed with a gospel choir is as refreshing as a breeze on a summer afternoon.
Bound to give your repeat button a workout, “Someone New” serenades the listener in the style of rhythm and blues. Hozier’s songwriter abilities are easily comparable to a mature John Mayer as he effortlessly captures passion and music.
Channelling the godfathers of blues, “To Be Alone“ would make musicians such as John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters proud, with the soul of blues shining through, as the album begins to take a darker and more dramatic spin.
Jumping ahead a spots on the tracklist, “In A Week” features another Irish singer-songwriter Karen Cowley after she won a five-week scholarship to Berklee College of Music in Boston. Her soft vocals fit well alongside Hozier, contrasting with his deep, raw singing qualities.
Hozier is able to take something simple, such as a standard guitar riff, and incorporate dense, meaningful components to create passionate and substantial music. The songs “Like Real People Do“ and “Cherry Wine“ are romantic examples of that, and two love songs that deserve to be on your next mixtape for a significant other.
The lyrical substance of the album challenges many different humanitarian and societal issues, and the viral hit “Take Me to Church” was what first brought light to his controversial music. Capturing the spacious and echoing effects of a church’s acoustics, the song resonates with undomesticated passion. Hozier’s piercing vocals slam together with the thundering instrumentation to create one of the biggest songs of the year.
Buy the album here.
