2011 so far has seen it’s fair share of album releases by some of today’s hottest artists. The album I have been anxiously waiting months for debuted in mid-August and holds the #8 spot on Billboard Top 200. Blue October’s “Any Man in America” is by far my favorite album of 2011.
I was a bit concerned that Blue October wouldn’t be the same when former guitarist C.B. Hudson made the announcement late last year he was leaving the band. This group has to be some of the most talented musicians out there and for one of them to leave was sure to throw off the balance. Being as talented as they are, they made it work and created one of their most personal records to date.
AMIA isn’t your typical Blue October album. The band isn’t usually associated with synthesized beats or guest rappers on their tracks. Some fans haven’t welcomed these changes warmly, but personally, it was a refreshing change of pace. Frontman Justin Furstenfeld showcases his piano abilities on a few songs by gracefully striking every key as smoothly as he sings every note. As always, Furstenfeld is giving a peek into his personal struggles through his emotional and sometimes brutally honest lyrics. With this album, he takes those emotions and honesty to a whole new level.
In the last couple of years, Furstenfeld has dealt with a cheating wife, divorce, losing custody of his beloved daughter and a severe bout of mental anxiety. Understandably, Furstenfeld was full of anger and other pent up feelings when he sat down to write this album. Each song is a detailed representation of various events he went through and gives his side of the story.
The Feel Again (Stay) was the first track I heard prior to the full disc’s release. As someone who had a young daughter during the demise of a marriage and having gone through similar feelings, this song hit home hard. The title track, Any Man in America, reveals how Furstenfeld was (well, bluntly) screwed by the American legal system during his custody battle.
As the album progresses, it seems that Furstenfeld is moving in the right direction towards finally getting over his ex-wife. Whether that’s true or not is yet to be seen; maybe on the next album us Blue October fans will hear how life is finally going in Furstenfeld’s favor. For now I will continue to enjoy my favorite album of 2011 courtesy of my favorite band of all time.