Seether - "One Cold Night"

Album released July 2006.

I happened upon this South African quartet late one night on Jay Leno as they performed an acoustic version of "The Gift." The next day, I bought the CD, a rare occurrence in the life of a 30 something father. It is also available on Itunes.

This album features a 'greatest hits' of Seether performed acoustically at an outdoor show. The performance is mesmerizing. Seether's sound is a logical progression of Nirvana and Pearl Jam, but is far from a knock-off. Lead singer Shaun Morgan has composed mature, thoughtful lyrics that imbue (I love that word) the songs with depth and emotional veracity. The CD comes with a DVD of the performance, and it is clear that he is not doing a 'bit' when he sings these songs. The problem with much of what I hear on the radio now is that any angst or attitude is manufactured as part of a marketing scheme. Morgan is the real thing, almost in the same vein as Richard Ashcroft and Kurt Cobain (the highest compliment I can pay to a musician).

Favorite tracks: "The Gift", "Fine Again", "Immortality" (Pearl Jam), "Remedy."

To listen, go here (it plays automatically): http://www.seether.com/home.asp