Admiral Fallow’s Tree Bursts into Snow is a make out album.
Fortunately, I’m going to explain the make out album (MOA), in great detail. It doesn’t matter what age you are — everyone makes out; except my grandparents, you shut your mouth about my grandparents.
Making out is great. Making out with music playing is better. Have you ever experienced anything more deafening than the sound of teeth clicking together while having a smooch? I’m not saying this happens frequently but I’d much rather hear the smacking of a drum head than the clanking of my incisors against someone else’s. A good MOA (this is a terrible acronym, but it’s all we have to work with) is often overlooked.
Far too often, people just look to the face value of sex appeal in an album — Oh, you’re playing Barry White? I get it, you want sexy time. Well you’re not getting any because you, my friend, just made your intentions far too obvious with your blatant sexy music choice.
You need to be classier than Barry. You need Admiral Fallow because a MOA should be subtle, but still have that romantic feel that gives you a hankering for some good ol’ fashioned French kissing and heavy petting. A good MOA is not too heavy; it’s pleasant, but still fun enough to high five after some business gets done. Above all else, it should just flow song into song — a quality Admiral Fallow delivers.
Admiral Fallow are from Glasgow, and sound strikingly similar to Mumford and Sons. They both love an epic chorus and a big sound, but it’s unfair to compare them because both bands started roughly around the same time. Flutes, accordions, and clarinets pepper Tree Bursts into Snows’ sound, giving it a folky feel.
The track Trees Burst opens things off with a dual vocal between lead singer Louis Abbot and the lovely Sarah Hayes. It’s about losing friends through the act of violence. You’re right, not a description that makes you want to pucker up, but even though the idea may sound a bit morbid, there’s something about the melody of this track that is just so, tender.
We start to to see the fun side of Admiral Fallow during Guest of the Government with its tempo; this is one of the strongest tracks on the album that you should play loud. It works as either a pre- or post-make out song. Isn’t This World Enough, brings that accordion out in full force which accompanies a gospel piano, and will have your head bobbing and whistling in no time.
The slower songs on this album, like Burn or Oh Oscar, aren’t contrived or heart on the sleeve; they fit the feel of the album. They need to be listened to by two people with one of them resting his or her head on the other his or her’s shoulder and/or lap.
This is an album that’s hard not to love. So instead of reaching for Barry White next time, choose Admiral Fallow. You won’t be disappointed.