Dishwalla Album: “Opaline [Bonus Track]”

Dishwalla has long been well-known as one of a few pop bands that have mastered the art of songwriting: in each album, the instruments are distinctly layered, the choruses catchy, and the transitions between verses, chorsuses, and bridges impeccably smooth. I own and love all three of their albums "Pet Your Friends", "And You Think You Know What Life's About" and their latest effort, "Opaline", as they capture a range of emotions that most people have felt at least once in their lives :o)

What sets "Opaline" apart, however, is that it reflects immense growth -- musically, lyrically, and emotionally. This is the first album in which all the instruments and, most definitely, JR Richards' voice flows freely all throughout the entire album. From the opening beats and soft guitar strumming of "Opaline" to the Richard's poignant vocals and lyrics in the last song, "Drawn Out", the members of Dishwalla masterfully weaves each of their distinct musical interpretations of each song into solid, powerful, unified entities. It's storytelling at its best, similar to watching a movie in which the score manifests and punctuates the storyline and emotions perfectly.

The question "And you think you know what life's about" that Dishwalla posed in their second album is answered in "Opaline." JR Richards' vocals and lyrics take the listener on a journey of Life's Lessons. They emote a feeling of learning difficult, sometimes painful, lessons about life and love -- and then coming out on top once one realizes that love and life are essentially up to yourself. In the the tenth song, "Nashville Skyline", Richards' discovers and shares with the listener that "Underneath it all, you yourself are free/forevermore is the love that you need to believe/and you yourself are there/floating high above/the Nashville Skyline"

This, if anything, is the heart of "Opaline" -- amidst the diversity of life's experiences, Dishwalla has found a way to be free and freely love. Musically and lyrically, "Opaline" embodies this feeling, this lesson so well that you cannot help but learn. And even if you go in feeling that you think you know what life's about, after just one listen, you will feel as if you're "floating high above", no matter where you happen to be...

can i borrow 95 stars from the other albums and place it here?!

this album deserves a hundred stars.. i mean it.

dishwalla, please do us a favor and dont EVER stop making music!

Getting a bad rap as their only claim to fame being Counting Blue Cars and even called 'washed up' in ignorant circles Opaline is a truimphunt follow up of the also excellent though lesser known "And You Think You Know What Life's About" CD. I didn't know who these guys were until I joined a band and we had to cover Blue Cars. It was on a whim I typed dishwalla.com into my browser and found a very extant band with a new disc - Opaline. When I first heard the music I found it very different from the 1st (Pet Your Friends) and also the 2nd in that it seemed more mellow yet now I've come to love this CD best of their 4 offerings (most recent album is a live disc). Honestly there's not a bad track and most of them are postitively addictive. I've found the songs convert well to strumming on my acoustic by the fire as well as playing the disc loud in my car, lighting up my night. Listen, discover this band - they'll change your life as they did mine. Also stay tuned for the new album to be released 03-15-05.

no sarcasm here... i have been listening to opaline for two years, and eversince it was and still is my fave cd. after i heard the cd, i started to get addicted to music and even went serious with my band. they may have mellowed and narrowed down here but i think that's the way they sound best. every song is just simply beautiful. i have exposed a number of my friends to opaline and most of them would admit to have a favorite dishwalla song.

my fave track in this album must be "angels or devils" (it's very hard to choose a fave track here). my other fave is "candleburn".

no other album i've heard has sounded this clean, emotional, and soulful. richards has one of the most beautiful voices.

although opaline didn't sell as much as it deserved (due to poor promotion), i must say i am so happy to be one of the few who experienced the music and i can't imagine my life without knowing this cd. i pity those who haven't heard it yet, they just don't know what they're missing.

after two years of listening to opaline, i guess it'll be my fave album for the rest of my life (unless dishwalla would come up with something better than this... and i know for sure they would!).

This album is like a best kept secret, but shouldn't be. People need to know about it , listen to it, buy it! I wasn't familiar with Dishwalla until earlier this summer. The local radio station put on a concert in the park and that is when I first heard them. I was absolutely drawn to their music and wondered why I hadn't heard them before! The next day I ordered their CD and it is now on my list of favorites which include the likes of Matchbox Twenty--Mad Season and Train--Drops of Jupiter. If you like that style of music, you should love this one! The intro to the title track lures you in with a mystical beat and you know you are in for a musical journey. My favorite tracks include: Candleburn and Every Little Thing, however I feel they are all good and I never tire of them. I've read that some feel it's too mellow compared to previous albums, but I'm a sucker for ballads, and I feel they best accentuate the vocals of JR Richards. The lyrics alone won me over on this CD, and the fact that JR has the ability to mesmerize me with that soul soothing, sexy, make my loins ache type of voice....well it's just an added bonus! I have recommended this CD to 4 of my friends thus far. Of the four, none had ever heard of Dishwalla, and with just one listen, all four loved it! So there you have it, they ARE expanding their listening audience...I'm making sure of it!

Enjoy!