My introduction to Walk Off The Earth was via a YouTube clip of their Gotye cover, ‘Somebody That I Used to Know’. With over 148 million views it is an impeccably tight take on one of the most sensational songs in recent times. Not only is it musically tight, but visually tight with five members gathered around one guitar using only the guitar, their hands and vocals to create a beautiful and clever take on the song.
So when I first heard the debut album, I must admit I was slightly disappointed. Other than the Gotye cover, which unfortunately you can’t see, the album sits in a different musical genre. The ambience from their live performances is also lost, instead replaced with polished pop. It is still an OK pop album, but it is no more special than any other pop album. They would have been better to go with their strength in more acoustic and ambient performances to showcase their talents.
One of their biggest strengths is having three lead singers in Ryan Marshall, Sarah Blackwood and Gianni Luminati. Mike Taylor and Joel Cassady round out the Canadian multi-instrumentalists, impressively covering vocals, guitar, bass, ukulele, banjo, drums, beatbox, theremin, xylophone, cigar box, cigar box ukulele, piano, cajon, trumpet, harmonica and percussion between the entire quintet.
WOTE still present a positive and feel – good album, perfect for tweens. After forming in 2006 it is about time they made a full-length album.
6/10
Reviewer: Jess Kellar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ME8eh4rMO7Y