With their sophomore full-length album, 2018's polished Orion, New Yorks' X Ambassadors further hone their dusky brand of electro-tinged pop. Working with executive producer Ricky Reed, who has previously helmed albums with Jason Derulo, Leon Bridges, Maroon 5, and others, X Ambassadors offer an album that builds upon the dark emotionality of their early work while offering more of the exuberant pop hooks they adopted on 2015's VHS. It's a sound they've been on the hunt to perfect ever since nabbing initial buzz in 2011 ...
Read More
With their sophomore full-length album, 2018's polished Orion, New Yorks' X Ambassadors further hone their dusky brand of electro-tinged pop. Working with executive producer Ricky Reed, who has previously helmed albums with Jason Derulo, Leon Bridges, Maroon 5, and others, X Ambassadors offer an album that builds upon the dark emotionality of their early work while offering more of the exuberant pop hooks they adopted on 2015's VHS. It's a sound they've been on the hunt to perfect ever since nabbing initial buzz in 2011 with singles like "Litost" and "Consolable" -- and one that purportedly even led them to abandon an entire album in 2018. Instead, they started again, working closely with Reed, Earwulf, and others. Borrowing its title from the mythological Greek hunter, Orion once again showcases the soulful vocals of lead singer Sam Harris, whose throaty lilt adds to the record's earthy production. In fact, many of the arrangements here seem to hinge less upon any synth or drum programming (though there is that), and more on deftly captured analog elements like the twangy acoustic guitar riff on "Hey Child," which evokes a Spaghetti Western-meets-goth vibe akin to Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus." Similarly stripped down is the bluesy "Quicksand," in which Harris coos with hip-hop swagger over another buzzy acoustic riff that brings to mind a more serious take on Odelay-era Beck. Elsewhere, the band joins singer K. Flay for the yearning R&B- and flamenco-accented duet "Confidence," offers up the infectious Achtung Baby-esque pop kinetics of "Boom," and sinks into more sexy hip-hop moodiness on the minor-key falsetto slow jam "Rule." Also compelling is the group's anthemic "Wasteland" which finds them adopting a bit of Bruce Springsteen's passionate stadium sparkle. There are even a few extremely stripped-down moments including the folky ballad "History" and the stirring "I Don't Know How to Pray," in which Harris pleads with gospel intensity against a supple Rhodes-sounding keyboard. As the title implies, Orion is the work of a band on the hunt for a sound that balances outsized mainstream hooks with more fine-tuned R&B intensity, and so far, they've been successful. ~ Matt Collar, Rovi
Read Less
Add this copy of Orion to cart. $3.00, fair condition, Sold by Dream Books Co. rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Denver, CO, UNITED STATES, published 2019 by Polydor.
Add this copy of Orion to cart. $3.99, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Diamond rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2019 by KIDinaKORNER/Interscope Records.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Cases may show some wear. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of Orion to cart. $4.27, good condition, Sold by HPB-Ruby rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2019 by KIDinaKORNER/Interscope Records.
Add this copy of Orion to cart. $8.71, fair condition, Sold by Prime Goods Outlet rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Troy, OH, UNITED STATES, published 2019 by Polydor.
Add this copy of Orion to cart. $18.73, new condition, Sold by Revaluation Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Exeter, DEVON, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2019 by Interscope.
Add this copy of Orion to cart. $56.14, new condition, Sold by Entertainment by Post - UK rated 3.0 out of 5 stars, ships from BRISTOL, SOUTH GLOS, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2019 by Polydor.
![Beautiful Liar [Marigold Vinyl]](https://www0.alibris-static.com/beautiful-liar-marigold-vinyl/cover/61000stpbo.jpg)
Portions of content provided by Rovi Corporation. © 2024 Rovi Corporation.