Album Review: Namesake Caution by Time Of Orchids
Alright, let’s dive into Namesake Caution, the 2007 brainchild of Time Of Orchids, released under Cuneiform Records. If you’re into that sweet spot where Alternative/Indie Rock meets Post-Rock with a dash of Pop/Rock vibes, this one's for you. It’s quirky, layered, and kinda feels like your cool artsy friend made it in their garage—except, y’know, Colin Marston produced, mixed, and mastered it, so it’s got that professional sheen too.
Now, I’m not gonna lie—this album is all over the place in the best way possible. Tracks like “We Speak In Shards” and “Entertainment Woes” stuck with me after just a couple listens. Like, how could they not? “We Speak In Shards” kicks off with these jittery keyboard lines that feel like someone spilled coffee on a piano but somehow made it sound intentional. Then boom! The vocals come in, all cryptic and echoey, like they’re whispering secrets only you can hear. It’s catchy without being obvious about it, which is rare these days. You know when a song gets stuck in your head even though you don’t fully understand what it’s saying? That’s this track right here.
Then there’s “Entertainment Woes,” which hits different. This one’s more laid-back, almost chill, until the guitars sneak up on you halfway through. It’s like watching clouds roll by and suddenly realizing there’s a storm brewing. There’s something oddly relatable about the lyrics—it’s like they’re poking fun at modern life while simultaneously nodding along to its absurdity. By the end, you’re just vibing hard, wondering if you should laugh or cry.
The rest of the album keeps things interesting too. Songs like “Parade of Seasons” and “Darling Abandon” have this dreamy, cinematic quality, like each track is painting its own little world. Meanwhile, tracks like “Crib Tinge To Callow” throw curveballs with weird time signatures and unexpected shifts. Honestly, it’s the kind of record that makes you wanna sit down with headphones and really pick apart every layer. Or maybe just blast it loud and dance awkwardly in your room. Both work.
What’s wild is how cohesive everything feels despite all the experimentation. Credit goes to Time Of Orchids for pulling off such an eclectic mix without losing their identity. Oh yeah, and props to Colin Marston—he basically wore every hat during production, and dude killed it.
So yeah, Namesake Caution isn’t perfect, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s messy in the same way creativity often is: raw, unfiltered, and bursting with personality. Listening to it feels less like hearing an album and more like flipping through someone’s sketchbook—each page revealing something new and kinda beautiful. And hey, isn’t that what art’s supposed to do?
Random thought: Whoever decided to put two versions of “We Speak In Shards” AND “Parade of Seasons” on here must’ve had a wicked sense of humor—or maybe they were just messing with us. Either way, it works.
