Posts Tagged: as tall as lions

2007 / 4 stars / eisley / reviews — No Comments
14
Sep 09

Combinations (2007) by Eisley

eisley combinations

Eisley
Combinations
2007, Warner Reprise Records
indie rock/pop
4½

This may be Eisley’s second album, but it’s the first I’ve heard of theirs. I have to admit that I’m pleasantly surprised. This is a pretty strange analogy to make, but if you could bottle up folk rock, soft pop, and a dash of vaudeville, you’d have Combinations.

Eisley has a haunting quality to their music, vocals, and lyrics that permeate everything from their rock songs like “Invasion” to their sweeter numbers like “Like The Actors.” As the band is essentially a family affair (everyone’s related in some way), the tight delivery and rich vocals should come as no surprise, but I have to admit I envy that cohesiveness. Lyrically, this album is darker than the lighter background would imply, but the contrast is what makes this album that much more appealing.

“Invasion,” “A Sight To Behold,” “I Could Be There For You.”
myspace, last.fm
As Tall As Lions’s self-titled album, Rachael Yamagata’s Elephants…Teeth Sinking into Heart

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2009 / 4 stars / reviews / the appleseed cast — No Comments
26
Mar 09

Sagarmatha (2009) by The Appleseed Cast

Sagarmatha by The Appleseed Cast

The Appleseed Cast
Sagarmatha
2009, The Militia Group
post-rock, indie
4½

If Peregrine was The Appleseed Cast’s epic concept album, Sagarmatha is their most aesthetically pleasing. While not as cohesive, there is a certain honesty and root-sy rock throughout Sagarmatha that lifts this album to the top of the post-rock heap. Over time, it seems the band has learned that the simplest beats are the most unique. They’ve returned to their roots in End of Ring Wars, softened their sound, and managed to create something new in the process. This will probably be the understated great album of their career and of this year’s releases.

“The Summer Before,” “South Facing Col,” “An Army of Fireflies.”
myspace, last.fm
Explosion in the Sky’s The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place, As Tall As Lions’s self-titled album

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2009 / 3 stars / reviews / the fray — 1 Comment
20
Feb 09

The Fray (2009) by The Fray

The Fray by The Fray

The Fray
The Fray
2009, Epic
alt rock
3

Taking to heart the lessons from their previous double platinum debut How To Save A Life, The Fray returned at the beginning of the month with their sophomore album. Sonically, they’ve pushed the piano away just a bit to focus more on their ‘pop rock’ sound. Even their slower songs lack the drudgery of half of How To Save A Life, which seems both a blessing and a cop out.

Essentially, this album is populated with different versions of “Over My Head (Cable Car)” and “How To Save A Life.” I wish I could say differently, but even their lyrics are eerily similar to what was in How To Save A Life. One has to wonder if this band simply hasn’t grown in any way, or if they’ve fallen back to the tried-and-true Coldplay strategy of spitting out different versions of the same song in hopes of making money. The Fray may make a lot of money from this album, but there aren’t any songs here that can compare to the catchiness of “Over My Head (Cable Car).” If their third album is the same, they will degenerate into a two-hit wonder.

“Enough For Now,” “You Found Me,” “Where The Story Ends.”
website, myspace
Coldplay’s A Rush Of Blood To The Head, As Tall As Lions’s As Tall As Lions

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