Wikipedia

Beneath the Rhythm and Sound

Beneath the Rhythm and Sound is an album by the American band the Ocean Blue, released in 1993.[2][3]

Beneath the Rhythm and Sound
Studio album by
the Ocean Blue
Released1993
StudioCompass Point (Nassau)
GenreAlternative rock
LabelSire/Reprise[1]
ProducerThe Ocean Blue, Kevin Moloney
The Ocean Blue chronology
Cerulean
(1991) 		Beneath the Rhythm and Sound
(1993) 		Peace and Light EP
(1994)

The first single, "Sublime", peaked at No. 3 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart.[4][5] The band supported the album by touring with Suddenly, Tammy![6]

Production

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The album was recorded in Nassau, Bahamas.[7] The lyrics were written by lead singer David Schelzel, who wanted to return to the song-based writing of the first album, instead of concentrating mostly on the production.[8][9]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [10]
Chicago Tribune    [11]
The Philadelphia Inquirer    [12]
The Record    [13]
The Tampa Tribune    [1]

Trouser Press thought that "the self-produced Beneath the Rhythm and Sound lacks the outside opinion it clearly needed; a more seasoned set of hands could've brought 'Sublime' (which pleads for multi-tracked backing vocals) and 'Either/Or' ... to much fuller fruition."[14] The Washington Post determined that "this Anglophile Pennsylvania quartet cultivates a generalized mid-'80s British guitar-band sound on upbeat tunes like 'Peace of Mind' and 'Sublime', but when the pace slips toward the sauntering the debt to Morrissey and Marr becomes formidable."[15] The Columbus Dispatch called Beneath the Rhythm and Sound "a lush, jangly, alluring collection of rock songs."[16]

The St. Petersburg Times praised "Dave Lau's light sax on 'Bliss is Unaware'."[17] The Philadelphia Inquirer opined that "you'd be hard-pressed to find a record more bland and blanched than the third release from the Ocean Blue... Choosing to set sail on a listless sea of English pop styles, David Schelzel affects the adenoidal mannerisms of New Order's Bernard Sumner, Haircut 100's Nick Heyward, and a host of Postard-label Scottish acts."[12] The Chicago Tribune stated that the band "rings in a subtle alternative rock sound with swirling keyboards."[11] The Record commended "the guitar and keyboard interplay that adds tension to 'Don't Believe Everything You Hear'."[13]

AllMusic wrote: "Leaving behind the mellow minimalism of their first two records, the Pennsylvanians gave their ethereal music a brighter, glossier sheen on this record."[10]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by David Schelzel

No.TitleLength
1."Peace of Mind"2:59
2."Sublime"3:08
3."Listen, It's Gone"3:46
4."Either/Or"3:43
5."Bliss Is Unaware"2:24
6."Ice Skating at Night"3:18
7."Don't Believe Everything You Hear"3:47
8."Crash"3:28
9."Cathedral Bells"3:19
10."The Relatives"2:58
11."Emotions Ring"4:06

Personnel

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The Ocean Blue

  • David Schelzel – vocals, guitar
  • Rob Minnig – drums, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Bobby Mittan – bass guitar
  • Steve Lau – keyboards, saxophone, backing vocals

Technical

  • The Ocean Blue – producers (track 6), co-producers (tracks 1–5, 7–11)
  • Kevin Moloney – co-producer (tracks 1–5, 7–11)
  • Rob Minnig – engineer (track 6), mixing (tracks 6, 10–11)
  • Michael Brauer – mixing (tracks 1–2, 8)
  • Jay Healy – mixing (tracks 3–4, 8–9)
  • Neil Davenport – photography
  • Kim Champagne – art direction
  • Scott Hull – mastering

References

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  1. ^ a b Dunn, Michael (January 7, 1994). "Critics' closet". Friday Extra!. The Tampa Tribune. p. 19.
  2. ^ "The Ocean Blue Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  3. ^ Bessman, Jim (Oct 2, 1993). "Artist developments: Out of the Blue". Billboard. Vol. 105, no. 40. p. 14.
  4. ^ Dollar, Steve (November 26, 1993). "'Sublime' sailing for Ocean Blue". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. P5.
  5. ^ Whitburn, Joel (December 10, 2008). Joel Whitburn Presents Rock Tracks 1981-2008. Hal Leonard Corporation.
  6. ^ Staggs, Jeffrey (December 9, 1993). "Hershey isolation's fine for Ocean Blue". The Washington Times. p. M19.
  7. ^ "The Ocean Blue". Perfect Sound Forever.
  8. ^ Jacobs, Dennis (23 Nov 1993). "Smooth Sailing with Ocean Blue". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 5D.
  9. ^ Zatzariny Jr., Tim (December 8, 1993). "Ocean Blue: Band Is Making Hershey, PA., Famous Again". The Press of Atlantic City. p. B1.
  10. ^ a b Cater, Darryl. "Beneath the Rhythm and Sound". AllMusic.
  11. ^ a b Webber, Brad (4 Nov 1993). "Ocean Blue Beneath the Rhythm and Sound". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 7.
  12. ^ a b Stark, Karl (28 Sep 1993). "The Ocean Blue Beneath the Rhythm and Sound". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. E3.
  13. ^ a b Jaeger, Barbara (August 29, 1993). "The Ocean Blue, 'Beneath the Rhythm and Sound'". The Record. p. E4.
  14. ^ Reighley, Kurt B.; Reno, Brad. "Ocean Blue". Trouser Press. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  15. ^ Jenkins, Mark (8 Oct 1993). "Anglo-ing Beneath the Ocean Blue". The Washington Post. p. N13.
  16. ^ Eichenberger, Bill (November 18, 1993). "Pretense without angst". Weekender. The Columbus Dispatch. p. 8.
  17. ^ Hall, Dave (17 Dec 1993). "Sound Bites". Weekend. St. Petersburg Times. p. 16.
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