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Susan O’Neill – Now In A Minute

Florian Buechting Media Review No Comments

Susan O'Neill - Now In A Minute

Susan O'Neill - Now In A Minute
3.8

Rating

 3.8/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Very personal songs
  • Fine atmosphere
  • Good storytelling

Flyctory.com Cons

  • Very demanding
  • Rather monotonous

Preparing for my album coverage as of 13th September 2024, I ran into an exciting release from Ireland. Susan O’Neill is was scheduled to share her third studio album overall on that day. It is named Now In A Minute. Here are my thoughts about it. Finally, however, the album was pushed by a week and has been released on 20th September 2024.

 

Susan O’Neill – About The Artist

Susan O’Neill is an Irish artist, who is also known as SON. She was born on 21st April 1990 in Ennis in the West of the country. Already during school times, she was a member of the Ennis Brass Brand. In 2018, she released her debut album Found Myself Lost. Her most successful album so far was her second one. She collaborated with Irish singer-songwriter Mick Flannery in the 2021 release In The Game. The record peaked second in the domestic charts. In 2022, Susan O’Neill published the (solo) EP Now You See It.  Her style mixes Irish folk with rock, soul, gospel and blues elements.

 

Susan O’Neill – Now In A Minute – Track by Track

The twelve track album lasts 47 minutes.

1. Apparitions

There is no doubt about that the 4:37 minute opener Apparitions is a full value song. However, it slow way of guiding the listener into the world of Now In A Minute leads to a touch of an intro track. The song feels to calm you down and make you concentrate on its atmosphere, its story. Towards the end, it adds a bit of an dramatic touch.

2. Hail

Even Hail takes a bit until the chorus adds a more intense feeling. The increase of energy is rather slight. The second song of Now In A Minute works with multiple tracks on the vocal side, which adds a a lot to the listen. Without that, the song might feel a bit too lengthy.

3. Tijuana

Susan O’Neill takes us to Mexico in this song. The song si about an encounter in the border town. The song has some rhythmic elements, but overall still strongly focuses on the vocal performance of the Irish artist.

4. Drive

The single release Drive is the first song on the album, which also adds some pop-ish elements to the song. Susan O’Neill presents a nicely flowing melody, the drums and percussion in the background feel much more present than in the songs before.

5. Bright Eyes

Now In A Minute presents another single release as its fifth song. This time, the rhythmic elements are the strongest and most present parts on the instrumental side. This leads to intense, atmospheric, but also somehow depressing touch. The more melodic chorus does define some ease, though.

6. Lilt

Lift is a nice folk track with a comparably (for this album) melodic and present character. The Irish artist is working quite intensively with the background instrumentation in here. Especially the brass sounds leave a mark.

7. Sign of the Times

Sign of the Times spreads a slight rock touch over the album. This leads to a nice contrast to the tracks before. Nice listen.

8. Everyone’s Blind

For the almost five minutes of Everyone’s Blind, Susan O’Neill even adds some more freedom to the guitars. The rough guitar riffs partially even feel rather equal to the presence of the Irish singer’s voice. Due to the calm slow-downs, the song has a nice plot and does not get boring. The final part of the song is really powerful.

9. Too Many Ways

The ninth song goes back to a more emotional, soulful listen. Nonetheless, the song comes with a nice flow, which adds a nice atmosphere to the very personal storytelling.

10. Malachi

Malachi is another very intense song. With the piano lines and the usage of sound effects, it has a very intimate, but also virtuous touch. This may even be a good track for jazz listeners.

11. Rewire

The last song on Now In A Minute, which has already been shared with the fans, is Rewire. The eleventh song on the album. The song strikes with a rather complex structure and virtuosity. The rhythmic elements are rather present in here again.

12. Give You My All

These four and a half minutes close the 2024 album by the Irish artist. It is another fine song with a piano melody. Later in Give You My All, the ballad is also adding scattered other instrumental elements.

 

Susan O’Neill – Now In A Minute – Spotify

Here is the album on Spotify:

 

Susan O’Neill – Now In A Minute – My View

Now In A Minute is very gentle, fragile, personal. This turns the release into a very demanding listen as well. Susan O’Neill wants you to listen to all elements of her music. If you don’t do so, you are quite likely lost and cannot enjoy it the way the album deserves it. I unfortunately have to say that I personally fail in that a couple of times.

Favorite Song: Give You My All

 

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