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Approaching Normal (Parental Advisory)

Released 2009

Blue Does	03:26	95,192 plays
Say It (Album Version Explicit)	03:39	243,654 plays
Dirt Room (Album Version Explicit)	03:24	235,630 plays

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songs

Song order Play count

1	Weight Of The World (Album Version Explicit)	04:05	123,918plays	Buy
2	Say It (Album Version Explicit)	03:39	243,654plays	Buy
3	Dirt Room (Album Version Explicit)	03:24	235,630plays	Buy
4	Been Down	04:19	124,773plays	Buy
5	My Never	03:46	140,078plays	Buy
6	Should Be Loved	04:02	137,232plays	Buy
7	Kangaroo Cry	04:53	112,390plays	Buy
8	Picking Up The Pieces	04:22	121,456plays	Buy
9	Jump Rope	03:20	171,342plays	Buy
10	Blue Skies	03:43	118,938plays	Buy
11	Blue Does	03:26	95,192plays	Buy
12	The End (Album Version Explicit)	05:00	132,599plays	Buy

album review

Despite its conventional title, Approaching Normal is Blue October's most puzzling release to date. Frontman Justin Furstenfeld jumps overboard on the bulk of these tracks, from the snarling melodrama of "Weight of the World" (where he sounds like Adam Pascal, the hyperbolic rocker from Rent) to the bizarre, Smash Mouth-styled bounce of "Jump Rope." He has an unchecked affinity for drama, for the sort of first-pumping grandeur that very few bands can execute, and his angsty self-loathing turns up some priceless nuggets of post-grunge poetry. "I gained 40 pounds because of you!" Furstenfeld howls during "Say It," before announcing his intention to "cover you in ants, bees, and honey, then take your picture for the cover of our album" during the follow-up tune. He even adopts a British accent for "Kangaroo Cry." Furstenfeld's vocal resemblance to Jack Black is more apparent on these tracks than ever before, and Blue October remain aware of their own absurdities. ~ Andrew Leahey, Rovi

listener reviews

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par for the course is GREAT

By amarochstar5/17/2009 06:20:05

This album doesn't stray too terribly far from what we've come to expect of Blue October, there is the song of feeling wronged and trying to regain control (Dirt Room), the songs of love and aching (Should Be Loved, Been Down, etc), and the songs that generally make you feel good (Jump Rope). But then the album cuts a hard left with The End. No longer trying to regain control, this fictional character must "fix" things in a way that "seems easy, quick, and painless".
Overall: Fans of the band will not be disappointed, this is very much the same band we've come to enjoy over the past few years. They've just grown up a little more and no longer feel the need to make only "safe, radio-ready" music. ...And that is a VERY good thing.

1 out of 1 people think this is useful

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