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Vedera

The Weight Of An Empty Room (as Veda) (2005)
Second Nature Recordings

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Contributed by: Meg
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on August 5th 2005

While each song on Veda’s release The Weight Of An Empty Room is similar enough to create an excellently cohesive album, each individual song exhibits its own special appeal. The subject matter varies, the intensity of the instruments varies, but one thing that does not falter is the mass appeal Veda exudes.

The Weight Of An Empty Room's first track “Trade This Fear” will give you a very accurate depiction of how powerful the entire album is. The song's first two lines, “Who is this darkness? Who is this illusive dreamer?” are bound to rummage their way into your head.

Vocalist Kristen May’s powerful, haunting, colossal voice, reminiscent of Denali’s Maura Davis, will immediately captivate any fan of female vocals. “Song For A Friend,” the album’s second track, exhibits her beautiful voice with nothing but light guitar work nearing the end of the track.

While May’s beautiful voice should be enough to lure you into listening to this tremendous release, profound and emotional lyrics consistently appear in the likes of, “I would have liked a call outside of you calling out my faults.”

The album’s first fairly upbeat track, “Lover’s Lie,” insists that May would like to “put a sparkle in your eyes” and is simply 3 minutes of pure charm and grace in musical form, quite similiar to the appeal of track "It's All Happening On Broadway."

Following “Lover’s Lie” lies “Desire On Repeat,” the album’s sexual, dreamy track which questions how a heart can be promised while it’s still searching. “Desire On Repeat” offers a powerful chorus and clearly exists as one of the album’s most standout tracks. Never before on the album have May’s vocal talents been so eloquently displayed, except perhaps on the album’s sixth track “In The Quiet.”

Never before have I put in a CD from a fairly unknown band and been completely captivated. Through 13 songs and 50 minutes of music, Veda will prove to you that they’ve provided the scene with one of 2005's best albums.

STREAM
Desire On Repeat
Song Four, Side Two

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Anonymous (October 26, 2005)

Saw them last night with Thrice. The music is alright but the girl's voice is AMAZING and she is really hot. I would do wonderful things to her.

Anonymous (August 8, 2005)

Scotts just jealous he aint hittin that.

CellarDoor (August 8, 2005)

This just in: fuck your drama.
I've never really got into this band... Girl has a nice voice, but just couldn't reach me in the same way Denali's music did.

CrookedSuperhero (August 8, 2005)

Cat fight!!!

Anonymous (August 7, 2005)

So let me get this straight...........she really is your girlfriend, Brian? Sw-izeet! This album is good, but no 10 by any means. And yeah, they are pretty good live.

jimmy_the_saint (August 7, 2005)

This is a very enjoyable album, but I question giving it a five-star mark.

maverick (August 7, 2005)

Colin made a fine argument below, which I've gladly cut-and-pasted for your viewing pleasure:

however, this review seems to try and separate veda from generic bands, and there's nothing substantial to the arguement. there's no comparisons that hold any merit, there's only "its really good."

i think the reviewer just really likes the band, and either hasn't heard enough music to realize it's fairly generic, or has and just doesn't want to admit it.

And instead of maybe opening up a dialogue about this, Brian -- your boyfriend -- jumped down Colin's throat, turning what was a valid criticism of your review into an insult to Colin's musical intelligence.

It's just shitty, is all. Just as musicians shouldn't make music if they can't take criticism, writers shouldn't write if they can't take criticism, either.

And honestly, there is no way this record is anywhere near perfect or classic or groundbreaking (which are three words I equate with a five-star review frequently).

By the way, I was the "anonymous" person who first left the comment about taking criticism; I dunno why I masked myself, but I'm taking responsibility for it now.

-Scott

Sally_Field (August 7, 2005)

Brian, don't let your girlfriend review for the website unless she (and you) can handle the criticism that comes with it.

Hey, anonymous. If I ever got criticism I would take it. And if I ever got criticism from somebody with merit, I would GLADLY take it. Telling me to quit writing and that I don't speak English do not count.

Marlon (August 7, 2005)

So much drama on the PNMB.

-Snoop Dogg

maverick (August 7, 2005)

This record sounded like a girl singing the first Sunny Day Real Estate album, rather blandly. I was not too into it.

Supposedly, they're better live; I might be seeing them tonight with mewithoutYou and Dredg, so I guess I'll find out.

-Scott

theevilmonkey (August 6, 2005)

hahahahaha the comment below me is awesome

Anonymous (August 6, 2005)

Brian, don't let your girlfriend review for the website unless she (and you) can handle the criticism that comes with it.

Anonymous (August 6, 2005)

This band was better when they were called VELOCITY GIRL.

Marlon (August 6, 2005)

I thought "Kelly" was "Kirby" cause those are the kind of posts he makes. And I was like "Well that's nice of him I guess..." and then my eyes adjusted.

Anonymous (August 6, 2005)

Pretty sweet album although not perfect. Amazing vocals.

Anonymous (August 5, 2005)

I love you, Meg, and I think you write well.

AND I THINK ENGLISH IS YOUR FIRST LANGUAGE, SO I THINK YOU'RE GOOD. OKAY. THANKS, EVERYONE, FOR CHECKING.

It's nice to know that she can post a good review and be ripped apart for it.

I liked it, so whatever.

Bye!

-Kelly

inagreendase (August 5, 2005)

Colin: Someone could use the same argument for yourself and say you haven't heard enough new wave not to realize how the Network is simply a Devo rehashing. But that's just my opinion, just like Sally enjoys this to the fullest extent.

colin (August 5, 2005)

inagreendase;

yeah, i like the network album. a lot. i think it offers a unique style that we don't hear too often ofa flavorful mix of punk and robots talking to each other. i don't think it's generic.

however, this review seems to try and separate veda from generic bands, and there's nothing substantial to the arguement. there's no comparisons that hold any merit, there's only "its really good."

i think the reviewer just really likes the band, and either hasn't heard enough music to realize it's fairly generic, or has and just doesn't want to admit it.

Inspection12e (August 5, 2005)

With a capital K.

Anonymous (August 5, 2005)

Yeah, these guys are touring with Thrice this fall and I think Thrice took them out a few months ago. I think its a rad mix.

inagreendase (August 5, 2005)

this sounds more like a press release or pr stunt than an actual review

Publicity stunt, eh?

Sally_Field (August 5, 2005)

Kewl.

Inspection12e (August 5, 2005)

This cd is really good. I don't know about a ten but maybe an 8?

Holy Roman Empire is great too but Veda just blows them away vocally.

If you want to hear the best singing you'll hear on an indie album in 2005 I suggest you buy this.

Anonymous (August 5, 2005)

I hope someone can help me out here. Isn't this the same band that opened for a handful of shows THRICE did around California back in April (of 2005)? I caught the end of their set but couldn't remember the bands name and I thought it may have been VEDA. Thanks.

Crookedsuperhero (August 5, 2005)

Wow, better than the Starting Lines new album.

This shit has to be good...

theundergroundscene (August 5, 2005)

yeah, no fuckin way

Anonymous (August 5, 2005)

sally dont just hand out 5 stars to every records

Anonymous (August 5, 2005)

saw them live. the girl has an impressive voice but the songs tended to all blend together.

jamespastepunk (August 5, 2005)

If anyone actually wants to listen to good female fronted bands, there's Holy Roman Empire.

Archangel (August 5, 2005)

"Is English not your first language?"

Ha ha, AWESOME.

stevejonestherealbones (August 5, 2005)

bands fronted by chicks cant score a perfect ten. you must have made a mistake somewhere....

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

colin (August 5, 2005)

this sounds more like a press release or pr stunt than an actual review. i've listened to this album after hearing the band would be opening for thrice, and it's all of easy-listening female alt rock. look for them to headline lillith fair.

i will give them this, whoever is singing can fucking sing. but the music is sorely cliche.

DFelon204409 (August 5, 2005)

Is English not your first language?