Ours

Distorted Lullabies

(DreamWorks)

Imagine, if you will, the following scenario: Take the musical sounds of rock bands like Fuel and Lit, add in the voice of U2 lead singer Bono, and then make this lead singer look slightly like Marilyn Manson. This composite image exactly describes lead singer Jimmy Gnecco and his group, Ours, a New Jersey band that will release its first album, Distorted Lullabies, in May. The band is mainly known to an established fan base in and around New York and other New England cities where they frequently perform (like Boston). Listening to a small sample of Ours’ music, one would swear that Bono had left U2 to join Ours—that is, until Gnecco starts screaming.

Gnecco’s airy falsetto dominates many of the tracks on Distorted Lullabies, a falsetto that can turn unexpectedly into a controlled but chilling scream. A great example of this comes in the album’s second song, “Drowning,” which has a lively beat and an almost too-catchy refrain, punctuated by Gnecco’s distinct howling. The introduction of “Sometimes” sounds exactly like a song from the movie Romeo and Juliet, and is a slightly more mellow and melodic song than many of the others on the album—that is, until Gnecco starts screaming, again. The edgy songs on the album reflect a tormented, anguished soul, a feeling which is backed up by the intermittent screams. The titles of the songs speak for themselves: “I’m a Monster,” “Miseryhead,” “Dancing Alone,” “Bleed.” Does anyone see a pattern?

Even if howling is not your scene, Distorted Lullabies is at times almost sweet and pleasant sounding. U2 fans may even be able to see past the disruptions and appreciate Gnecco’s voice for what it is. However, with their disturbing themes and haunting screams, these “lullabies” are more likely to inspire nightmares. —Sarah N. Kunz