Even though this thread is virtually dead, I’m going to review DDF’s own Sibling Singer, Shmueli Ungar’s debut album, Shmueli 2.
I first heard of Shmueli in a DDF thread asking for recommendations for a wedding singer:
my brother is friggin AWESOME
Shmueli Ungar: 845.248.8723
he sings at all types of weddings (and bar/bat mitzvas, sheva brochos, events, concerts, etc). Usually in chassidishe havura (sp?) charges $1400-$1600 depending on location (obviously not including overtime, mitzvah tantz, or chupah but is negotiable).
I’m snarky by nature, so I scoffed at the comment, thinking, “Don’t we all think our brothers are awesome singers. Maybe he’s good enough to sing at
your wedding.” (Full disclosure: My brother, who has made an appearance on this forum, is an awesome singer. No, he didn’t sing at my wedding. No, he isn’t putting out an album. No, he isn’t on YouTube.)
Anyway, I clicked on the video, and the dude can sing! My surprised reaction to his great voice was similar to this: (Language warning, goyish music warning, just warning you all round:
https://youtu.be/_cw1uLVSl1Y)
As for the next video, Chazi, I’m responsible for most of those 50,000 views. Duly chastised, I vow never to dismiss claims of sibling excellence by DDFers ever again – at least until I am disappointed. (Like if a brother gives away exclusive DDF rights for United Club Pass Sales)
Anyway, we know he can sing, and he put out an album. Is it any good?
In short: Yes.
If you are a masochist, you can continue reading for a too-long music review by someone whose sole music-critic qualification is owning a keyboard.
While almost every album that comes out is billed as “fresh, modern, but keeping a Jewish sound,” - whatever that means, this album is old school. Much of the arrangements have the heavy brassy sound of Avraham Fried and MBD ‘80s' and ‘90s' albums. And that is not a bad thing. I’ve played the album on repeat in the background for the past couple of days, and it has been extremely pleasant listening.
Rachmuna is one terrific stand out – this stunning number goes beyond “easy listening” and grabs you. Forget humming along as it plays in the background; Rachmuna pulls you in with its beautiful melody and terrific vocals.
The album's opener,
Emes, is one of the faster “pop” songs on the album, all of which are treated with synth arrangements. Shmueli’s vocal twists and shtick are fun and not overdone. You’ll hear more of that later, most notably in Yiten Lecha, where I most enjoyed them.
Lulei is a pretty sing-along song you’ll be foot tapping to at once. My one criticism is that like a few other songs on the album, it runs long. There are a few unnecessary musical interludes or overly repetitive verses (kavei kavei kavei kavei) that could have been cut so as to leave the listener wanting more, rather than looking for the skip button 5+ minutes in.
Ani Holech, like Yishoma, opens “cantorial” before switching to an up-tempo ballad (in Yishoma’s case, rock). Sure, you want to show off your vocal chops, but one song is fine. We get the point ;-). The song itself is enjoyable enough, nothing superlative, as are
Asher Buchar and Mah Yisroin - unremarkable, albeit pleasant ballads, though the latter has the benefit of pretty modulation, which I'm a sucker for.
Oid Yishoma is a solid rock number that is already popular since being released as a single a few months back. We get a taste of Shmueli’s Dedi-like “vocal rev” as I like to call it – when his voice sounds like it is motorcycle revving its engine before diving into a chorus. Fun tune.
I’m not a complete boki in album liner notes, but I would guess
Atu Huraisu is the first time Ilya Lishinsky gets a singing credit. And that’s what kind of song it is – heavy on synth and auto-tune. This cheesy-pop tune isn’t my favorite style, but it does enough to get by without me automatically skipping.
Yiten Lecha is a wonderfully fun, folksy song with an arrangement that rings country. Opening with Shmueli singing acoustic as if walking down the street is a nice touch, though it could have been even better had that blended into the arrangement. Had the song ended the way it started, or perhaps with a Carebachesque whistle, that would have been perfection!
The album closes with S’benkt (
Yearnings), an emotive, beautiful ballad which departs from the verse-chorus-repeat formula to impart a meaningful musical narrative – to great effect.
In all, a solid debut. As mentioned previously, Rachmuna alone is worth the price of the album.
Shmueli’s impressive vocals, tasteful arrangements, and song selection that is free of any true clunkers are the perfect ingredients. I predict this is an album that won’t be shelved, and I’ll keep listening even after the novelty wears off.
I give the album a Like, Thumbs Up, 5 stars – whatever it is we are rating things with nowadays on DDF.