The Heavenly States have released their first album and it follows on from their split
single with Coldplay (not a recommendation in my book but that’s another story). I have had
the CD for a long time and wish I liked it more. The
Story Of is a great, energetic song with lots of violin and a bouncy rhythm that
is like the B52s re-interpreting REM. Friends is hopelessly romantic and has a
stunning near-field vocal to grab you and pull you into the atmosphere. After that I
just get lost in what becomes mediocrity. All the right elements are there - violin,
great guitar work, connections with Palace and Smog. But, strangely enough, it just
doesn’t quite work for me as an album, even though there are some really good songs.
They seem to be reaching for a pop-alternative area that I can’t relate to. I’m sad
because I can tell that this band are capable of really exciting me.
