Expand Your Horizons

Using my words to describe Eastern Blok's latest, Folk Tales, would simply be an injustice to the band's music. That said, this album is why I like to be able to pick exactly what I review, because an album of this caliber shouldn't slide under anyone's radar.

What Eastern Blok has done with this album is nothing short of amazing. They've created a sound so unique and beautiful I'm at a loss for words as to how to describe it (despite the fact that I go on for another couple hundred words in this review). The old expression of "you had to be there" absolutely applies when speaking of this album - you just have to listen to it to understand and enjoy the impact it will have on your life. I'm not just saying that, I actually mean it - this is the type of album that opens your mind to new styles of music you'd never considered before. The ease with which this album played with my emotions was astounding ? oftentimes within the same song. While a lot of instrumental music is bashed for being background music, this is anything but: it steps to the foreground and actually influences the way you feel.

Folk Tales answers the question, ?What would happen if a few incredibly accomplished and talented musicians got together and poured their hearts and souls into a collection of songs?? The album is so very different than anything else I?ve ever reviewed ? the Eastern European influence is clear, and is set apart from all other music in that genre by adding a dash of Middle Eastern sound to it.

This album does something that very few can: it is amazingly descriptive without using any words. Not only did it transport me to a place I've never been to before, but it made me enjoy that place so much I started looking at condos so I could stay.

Expand your musical horizons and buy this album. It's available at CDBaby.com.