Artist: Alamo Race Track Album: Unicorn Loves Deer

Year: 2011
Duration: 0:0-1

Alamo Race Track's Unicorn Loves Deer Album: A

Alamo Race Track's fifth album, Unicorn Loves Deer, was released in 2016, following a four-year hiatus from the Dutch indie rock band. This album is an interesting departure from their past sound and style, incorporating more classical and orchestral elements into their music. In this of Unicorn Loves Deer, we'll take a closer look at the artist's history, the music genre of the album, its best songs, its innovative elements, and a final critique of the album.
Alamo Race Track began in 2001 in Amsterdam, composing music that blends orchestral pop, indie rock, and melodic folk. Their debut album, Birds At Home, was released in 2003. Their second album, Black Cat John Brown, released in 2006, was their breakout album, receiving critical acclaim across Europe. On this album, they showcase their ability to write catchy, upbeat melodies with hypnotic hooks that leave listeners humming for weeks. Their third album, Unicorn Loves Deer, released in 2011, is a little darker, as the songs are slower paced and more atmospheric.
Unicorn Loves Deer is a unique addition to their discography. The album genre can be identified as an orchestral indie pop with a touch of ambient music. The lead vocalist, Ralph Mulder, has a smooth and distinct voice that stands out on the album. The music is both captivating and calming, with a perfect balance of orchestra and rock instrumentation. The use of strings, horns, and piano adds a unique depth to the compositions and the overall sound of the album.
The album consists of ten tracks, and each song showcases the band's formidable songwriting skills. Young Spruce and Wires is a remarkable opening track that builds with increasing tension, before culminating in a euphoric instrumental section. Everybody Let's Go livens up the mood with an upbeat tempo and catchy melody that is impossible not to dance to. Kinetic is an ethereal track that features a slow-building melody and immersive instrumentation, leading to an epic chorus. Heartbreak is the album's most poignant and profound song, with raw and emotional lyrics accompanied by a simple, yet beautiful melody that stays with the listener long after the song's end.
Perhaps the innovative part of the album is the collaboration of the band with the Dutch National Youth Orchestra, which added a new layer to the band's sound, making the music more nuanced and multifaceted. The final track of the album Trunk is a great example of this collaboration, delivering a beautifully orchestrated sound that provides a satisfying closer in the record.
A minor critique about the album is that some tracks tend to be repetitive, and they lack a distinct variation in rhythm. This is notable on tracks such as Hawks, which features a repetitive guitar riff over the same chord progression throughout the song. While this technique could work in some compositions, in this particular song, it gets overbearing and can result in a listener losing interest.
In conclusion, Unicorn Loves Deer is an innovative record that showcases Alamo Race Track's ability to evolve and experiment with their sound. The album takes risks with its genre blend and collaboration with the Dutch National Youth Orchestra that pays off in most of the compositions. The album is well-balanced, with most songs delivering on the emotional and musical fronts. While there are some minor flaws in the album construction, it’s one that any indie music lover should give a chance. Alamo Race Track's ability to adapt illustrates why they continue to be one of the Dutch indie music scene's most essential bands.
In conclusion, Unicorn Loves Deer is an innovative record that showcases Alamo Race Track's ability to evolve and experiment with their sound. The album takes risks with its genre blend and collaboration with the Dutch National Youth Orchestra that pays off in most of the compositions. The album is well-balanced, with most songs delivering on the emotional and musical fronts. While there are some minor flaws in the album construction, it’s one that any indie music lover should give a chance. Alamo Race Track's ability to adapt illustrates why they continue to be one of the Dutch indie music scene's most essential bands.