If all of the releases of 2007 are as good as Future Of Forestryâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s Debut album â┚¬Ã…”Twilightâ┚¬? then 2007 will be an amazing year for music. This band has huge things ahead of them and â┚¬Ã…”Twilightâ┚¬? is just the first step. This is the band to keep an eye and ear on this year.

The album opens with two songs, â┚¬Ã…”Open Wideâ┚¬? and â┚¬Ã…”All I wantâ┚¬? that were also on the bands first EP, both of which are mellower in the verses but have soaring indie rock choruses. These two songs also seem to be fan favorites from the EP.

The next song is the albumâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s title track â┚¬Ã…”Twilightâ┚¬?. The song starts off slow but continually builds the whole time adding instruments and backing vocals gradually. Around minute three you realize that the song has captured you with its engulfing melody. The song then begins to gently let you down with its â┚¬Ã…”da da daâ┚¬Ã‚¦Ãƒ¢Ã¢”š¬? (Youâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢ll understand when you hear it). The song â┚¬Ã…”You and Iâ┚¬? is easily one of the more radio friendly tracks the album has. The melody and hook begin the moment Ericâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s vocals start and the song just takes off from there.

Eric Owyoungâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s vocals on this record are what make it stand out and shine like it does. Causal, strong, laid back vocals reminiscent to those of Switchfoot yet with distinct originality. The album has the powerful guitars and drums that it needs to propel the songs like it does. Yet there are just as many ambient sounds on the record that give you the intimate feel that a lot of records leave out.

Go buy this album, bring it home, or listen to it on the car ride home. Please forget what Iâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢ve said in this review though. Neither the band nor the album need my hype, let this album prove its self to you, because it will.

Tracklisting
1. Open Wide
2. All I Want
3. Twilight
4. Speak To Me Gently
5. Thinking of You
6. Sunrising
7. Sacred Place
8. You And I
9. Sanctitatis
10. If You Find Her
11. Gazing
12. Stay Beside Me

While this EP did not hit me hard at first, when it finally did, it hit me like a ton of bricks. Only every once in awhile does an album come along that demands more of the listener than just causal listening, and this is one of those CDâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s.

Future of Forestry is still a fairly young band, but has already been gaining a ton of well deserved momentum. The 6 song self titled EP starts with â┚¬Ã…”All I Wantâ┚¬? which begins soft and ambient, quickly adding the soothing vocals of Eric Owyoung then jumps in intensely very quickly in to the chorus only to come back down to the mellow verse.

There are probably several ways to describe the music and sound of Future of Forestry but â┚¬Ã…”Passion Rockâ┚¬? keeps coming to mind. The music is anything from mellow to hard rock, but it is always successful at putting you in the mood that the band wants you to be in order to fully receive what they are trying to get across in the song. That should be the goal of any song writer and/or band, but this band just does it perfectly.

The song that got me hook first was â┚¬Ã…”Stilledâ┚¬?. The chorus, which is carried along primarily by the vocals and the rim shots by the drummer has a very catchy and moving melody. Please go listen to some songs from the band and if you like what you hear purchase the EP. I know I cannot wait until a full length comes out.

Tracklisting
1. Open Wide
2. Renovation
3. All I Want
4. Untitled
5. Stilled
6. Twilight