The End of Suffering

Released: Nov. 3, 2009

Rating: C

Label: Incurable Eclectic… The End of Suffering

Released: Nov. 3, 2009

Rating: C

Label: Incurable Eclectic Records

Rocks Like: Conor Oberst and Elliott Smith meet Snow Patrol

Most of The End of Suffering is pleasant and fitting — what you would expect from a clear acoustic pop album.

You’ll want to like this album. Ken Flagg has the potential to be great, but not everyone wants to hear about his less-than-tender relationships.

The winning tracks of the album win by a landslide. They stay real and personal while others feel forced to sound a certain way.

“Funeral” comes off as morbidly quirky with its refrain, “Please don’t rob me / I’m going to a funeral.” The brassy guitar stands out from the song’s harmonies and ambient horns. If you could call one song about a funeral upbeat, this would be it. The similarly styled “Blinded” showcases the lyrics and the music together, creating a lovely story set to beautiful sounds.

The same can’t be said for “Mountain Girl,” which focuses on the most superficial of one girl’s finer qualities in a false-sounding falsetto or “Accelerator,” which puts a slightly humorous spin on empty relationships.

Every band sings about girls, but there has to be some feeling behind it to be truly successful. Otherwise, you get your Warrant’s “Cherry Pie,” or Sir Mix-A-Lot’s “Baby Got Back.” They may be dude anthems, but they aren’t winning over the ladies.