Act III: Life and Death

VINYL FORMAT. Following up where Act II left off, Act III is more melodic record with the heavy parts heavier, and the soft parts more serene. Set in a WWI era, Act III documents the metamorphosis of a fictional central character as he makes the transition from innocence to impurity. Concept albums didn't disappear when alternative rock became rock's primary direction in the early '90s. Green Day's American Idiot and Radiohead's OK Computer are well-known alternative rock concept albums, and the conceptual approach is alive and well on the Dear Hunter's 2009 release Act III: Life and Death. This album is the third of a series of Dear Hunter albums focusing on a character called "The Boy"; in Act III, The Boy is now a man, and the songs describe his struggles in life. Successful concept albums work well as a cohesive whole but should also have great songs that stand out on their own. Happily, individual tracks like "Life and Death," "The Poison Woman," and "Go Get Your Gun" have no problem fitting the bill. The result is an engaging alternative pop/rock effort that has a strong awareness of classic rock but without sounding overtly nostalgic.