The Dear Hunter - 'Act I: The Lake South, The River North' - Songs 1-4 | REACTION

[@TheFamousYakTamer]

Always so psyched to hear people loving Act I, because honestly IMO it's TDH's roughest album. Ofcourse that's to be expected from a first album of what started as basically just a passion side project for Casey Crescenzo. Anyway, here's your weather forecast for the rest of the Act albums: songwriting stays immaculate - quality, polish, production value and vocal talent go through the roof as you get further and further into it. I'm so jealous you get to experience it all for the first time!

[@secondhandreactions]

Oh man. This comment me so psyched for this and I was already so psyched for this. Lol

[@neighborsue]

Loved your forecast!!!

[@savingpyro]

I see where you're coming from, Act I definitely is more of a proof of concept album. I personally think Act II is their not roughest, but unpolished or not fully cohesive. It was the first album with the full lineup and I feel like they were kinda feeling each other out. That being said, I LOVE Act II. That is the album that got me into TDH. Now that y'all have heard Act I, you should go and listen to the Act I live. It takes all of the techniques that they've learned and applies it to Act I and it is Beautiful. Here's the link, if you should so chose. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZuohGSQrM5_aLs&pp=ygUadGhlIGRlYXIgaHVudGVyIGFjdCAxIGxpdmU%3D

[@neighborsue]

Wow! Heart wrenching and colorful lyrics, I'm so intrigued along with the musical journey through emotions this will be an incredible listen for sure

[@mangafreak923]

You have no idea what you are in for. This is only scratching the surface, get ready for one a hell of a musical journey.

[@secondhandreactions]

I'm so looking forward to this

[@neighborsue]

Now I am even more excited!

[@MurphDawg311]

Damn that was a journey that kept on climbing. I see so many different influences in this from all walks of the musical world. Wild stuff

[@secondhandreactions]

He was like 19 when he wrote all this on Act1. Talent on another level. I’m all in to this journey now. Can’t wait to keep going!

[@CMHixen]

If I live to 80, I will watch this series 200 times each. Wish I could get any of my friends to appreciate it like you do.

[@CMHixen]

If I hit the lotto, I will back Casey to take this to broadway.

[@neighborsue]

@@CMHixenThis should absolutely be seen and heard!!!!!

[@secondhandreactions]

@@CMHixen Thank you! I’m glad you’re enjoying this as much as we are.

[@t0fuwaffles]

My favorite band of all time. Since you two are listening to all the albums you will probably notice this, but there is specific motifs and melody lines that represent specific characters that you will hear repeat with different instruments, tempos, and intensities depending on what that character is going through in the story. It's unbelievably creative.

[@secondhandreactions]

So far definitely picked up on some recurring melodies, but I don’t think I have associated them with particular characters. Although there is the lyrical motif of ‘sing softly, bring me to the lake’ that surrounds Ms Terri

[@Combat9259]

I'm so here for this journey!

[@secondhandreactions]

Ah nice! Welcome aboard

[@medivhh]

Holy shit thanks for checking this out.

[@OTProd]

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, its begun, I am so here for this!

[@neighborsue]

yes!!!!!

[@Arrow2theACL]

I am pumped for this. Sorry this is going to be long. I have been engrossed with the Acts for a while now that I frequent TDH's reedit and listen to Casey's podcast where he discusses the story, his intentions of how he would give us the Acts if money was no object and some interesting tid bits about the process of writing. Fun fact. Casey recorded Act 1 with him and his family playing the instruments. His brother Nick plays the drums and continues to do so, but the rest of the founding members no longer are with the band after Act 1. They are Casey’s mother Judy providing some additional vocals and his father Phil providing the organ, and a brass. What I find fascinating is right out of the gate, Casey’s vision is to create this 5-6 album long story and by the time we get to Acts 4 and 5 we have heard many of these musical and lyrical themes already, but it is on a much elaborate scale with production value, mixing, orchestration. What draws me to the band is not only this fictional story, but just how the story not only follows with the maturity of our character Hunter but also the maturity of the band as the years pass as well. The number of musical themes and motifs throughout this entire album is like one large Rock Theatrical play and by calling the albums Acts, I am pretty sure that was the intention. So much like the theater. Progressions in the music you hear will symbolize characters as well as actions by those characters. In fact, there is a full 15-page document on The Dear Hunter reddit of time stamps of reprisals from all 5 Acts. But that is getting into fanboy territory and not for a first listen. The First Track is a short prologue that we commonly see in theatrical performances to set up the story. Named in Italian Battesimo Del Fuoco literally translated into “Baptism of Fire”, the narrator speaks of a woman who births a child at a great price. The child’s life is prophesized as being led throughout with great tragedy for everyone he meets including herself. However, the mother feels like she might be able to keep Hunter from this life if she isolates him from the city by a lake allowing Hunter to keep his innocence. The first act is really about the relationship of the mother and son, and what she must go through to keep him alive and shield him from a world she knows all too well. City Escape is where we find Hunter’s mother Ms. Terri “Mystery” fleeing for her life. Some bad people are after her. Come to find out Ms. Terri is a pregnant prostitute who is trying to escape her employers. We find out in The Inquiry of Ms Terri that she created a distraction to escape in the confusions by setting The Dime (the whore house) on fire. She dives into the river barely able to survive the currents just to get away. She decides to run from her problems to raise him removed from harsh realities, but soon realizes how difficult it is to survive without facing these realities head on.

[@secondhandreactions]

Thank you for this comment! I’m so psyched to do this. I didn’t think to look on Reddit for TDH, and I had no idea Casey has a podcast. That’s fantastic news. Gives me something to look more into. I read on Wikipedia that he left another band to do this, and that his family members helped out. That’s so organic and relatable. I’m thinking about live streaming a discussion of each act when we finish an album. I’d love to have you join in or comment when we get to it.

[@Arrow2theACL]

@@secondhandreactions fantastic. When do you usually live stream? on YT?

[@secondhandreactions]

@@Arrow2theACL this will be new. Not sure exactly when yet. Maybe Sunday early afternoon

[@TimAyro]

I hope this little sample convinced you guys to listen to the entire albums. So so so so so so soooooo good. Act I is my favorite. Once you listen to all the Acts, revisting Act I is magical.

[@Arrow2theACL]

Act 5 is my favorite, but after finishing the story there is certainly an much larger appreciation for Act 1. Love how the music and production matures with the character.

[@neighborsue]

That explains the whirlwind of emotion I was left with after this first set of songs.

[@redroses_player1019]

Get these guys on Antimai right now!! That whole album is just chefs kiss

[@secondhandreactions]

Can’t wait!

[@neighborsue]

Yes!

[@oswizl8887]

Hey you guys! I love the reactions, I'm also currently working on a tl;Dr of the story, explaining each and every song. If you guys want it to learn about the over arching story of the Acts, you can let me know! :D

[@secondhandreactions]

Ohhh. I’d love this! I’m thinking about doing a convo video- almost like a book club, when we get to the end of each Act. Maybe you could join us - or lend us your resources to reference?

[@Arrow2theACL]

@@secondhandreactions I actually am currently doing a write up for a music club event for another reactor's discord channel. I am in the middle of Act 3 for the deep dive, but know the entire story well. I'll put some interesting tid bits about this Act in another comment.

[@neighborsue]

I am digesting this as we go and plan to look into the lyrics' definitions combined with my own emotional responses before I read anyone else's... life experiences create a multitude of responses to heavy material such as this story line. I am hoping to come to similar conclusions as The Dear Hunter's practiced audience, bear with me if I do not follow up on anyone's explanation until I have had a chance to experience and digest this already enthralling creation.

[@oswizl8887]

@@neighborsue you're right that our experiences do absolutely change the perspective of the story, but according to Casey (the creator of the story and band) there is a linear and objective story behind the Acts, which is the one that I worked on. Still, it's great to have different perspectives of the story, as the lyrics and instrumental are easy to interpret in any way you seem fit

[@neighborsue]

@@oswizl8887 I appreciate your response and flexibility I want to have a personal reaction in the sequence I experience the songs instead of anticipating what to expect, I am excited by the collective enthusiasm!

[@RealGuitarG]

I just started this. But as someone who has listened to these albums for 20 years, hearing her say "masterpiece-ish" at THIS point? I'm just thinking to myself...oh you have no idea.....

[@secondhandreactions]

We just finished Act IV. You’re right. We had no idea. lol

[@neighborsue]

continuously blown away throughout this entire Masterpiece!!!!