★★★★★
If there's one thing you're guaranteed on a Blue October album, it's searing, gut-wrenching emotion. Throughout six previous albums lead singer and songwriter Justin Furstenfeld has captivatingly chronicled his history of mental illness and turbulent personal relationships, and Sway continues that tradition.That intensity is evident from the haunting piano intro of superb first single "Bleed Out" ("Bleed out / I gave it all / but you can't stop taking from me")...
- www.ink19.com
2013-08-08
★★★★★
Sound: For those of you concerned that Blue October's latest album Approaching Normal is filled songs that focus on vocalist Justin Furstenfeld's new, more positive outlook on life, don't worry too much yet. While there are songs that were obviously written after the birth of his daughter, Blue, the glimpses at happiness and peace of mind are still few and far between...
- www.ultimate-guitar.com
2012-04-12
★★★★★
Impression: Never having heard of Blue October except for a few concert adds here in there thru Deep Ellum I had no idea what to think, and my naiveté has paid off. A quick run thru gave off influences as vast as U2, Celtic instrumentation and moods, Psychedelic Furs and a load of British bands that straddle the line between ethereal and clean...
- www.ultimate-guitar.com
2012-04-12
★★★★★
Sound: The songs on "Any Man In America" run the gamut as far as my personal tastes go. There are several songs that I really enjoy and a few that I'm not really feeling. When Blue October announced they were working on a follow up to "Approaching Normal" in mid 2010 I was really excited to hear what they put together. I have since become somewhat soured to the wait, which was over 12 months, and the approximately 3 years between releases. "Any Man In America" mostly makes up for the wait...
- www.ultimate-guitar.com
2012-04-12
★★★★★
Sound: Not having heard anything prior to this album, it honestly sounds to me like a better version of Dave Mathews Band. That's a good thing though because I never really got into DMB. The bass, drums, and guitars were very well put together and really shine in this album. When I first heard "Hate Me" I knew I had to go and pick this record up and I wasn't the least bit disappointed. // 10 Lyrics and Singing: Justin has a lot to tell you in this album...
- www.ultimate-guitar.com
2012-04-12
★★★★★
You don't get much more personal than Justin Furstenfeld's lyrics on Blue October's Any Man in America. The whole album is lyrically-centred around his divorce and subsequent custody battle for his daughter, Blue (there's even a sample of a recorded conversation between Justin and his ex-wife on the track 'The Flight (Lincoln to Minneapolis)'...
- www.musicreview.co.za
2011-11-17
★★★★★
An open letter to Justin Furstenfeld, lead singer/guitarist for Blue October Re: Blue October's new album, Any Man in America Mr. Furstenfeld, I received a copy of this album a few days ago with the intention of reviewing it. I wasn't familiar with the work of your group before this, with the exception of having heard your song "Hate Me" on the radio once or twice a few years ago...
- www.popmatters.com
2011-08-29
★★★★★
Summary: Blue October makes an eye opening progressive rock album, fusing everything from classic rock to hip-hop in what amounts to a refreshing change of pace for the band after six studio albums. Blue October's music always leaned towards the risk-taking side, with influences dipping into every genre from metal/hard rock to pop and R&B...
- www.sputnikmusic.com
2011-08-29
★★★★★
Sound: Brilliant, simply brilliant, art-rock from the Texas desert that should forever alter the pop music scene and make it safe again for bands with intelligence and passion to ride the top of the charts. BLUE OCTOBER has masterfully blended progressive-rock, ala GENESIS and MARILLION, with Alternative Country elements and a Violin sound so smooth that KANSAS in their heyday couldn't have managed the blend...
- www.ultimate-guitar.com
2009-11-15