I will continue to review some great pop music, the year isn’t over… yet. The Eisenhowers made an impressive debut in 2006 with Almost Half Undressed and now almost three years later Raymond Weir has taken the next step in his maturing sound, which the influences of XTC, Kinks and Elvis Costello are heard. The sound is richer here with Weir getting the help of backing vocalists and sharp studio musicians. The lyrical content has also taken a leap forward with epic sagas of hopelessness, best exemplified by “Reign of the Stupid” and “After The Tide.” Include the addition of violins and many instrumental effects and you get the idea. With 14 tracks, there are plenty of highlights. “Gathering Dust” resembles an Andy Partridge song with it’s looping melodies and percussive details. The epic “1969” is a ballad that goes through an astronaut’s mind full of both idealism and narcissism. “Aggrodisiac” most definitely has spirit of Costello. Some of these song while, expertly produced don’t linger too long in mind. The jazzy feel of “Janine” is a great sophisticated pop ballad with little Bowie accents and “The Long Way Home” is my favorite here, with just the right mix of all the influences and melody. It ends with “Icarus Succumbs” an expansive epic along the lines of latter era Tears For Fears. The Eisenhowers will win over many with this group of literate and tuneful pop music.
Hey, Aaron … many thanks for the kind words!
Much appreciated – Raymond