speed of dark

Just from a glimpse at other reviews of the Stills' new album, I'm not alone in thinking that Logic Will Break Your Heart (2003) was the album we hoped would form the foundation the Stills would build on. I ate that thing up like ice cream, song after song. Their follow-up, Without Feathers (2006), did not carry out that hope. I can't remember a single song, only thinking, "WTH did you do with the STILLS???"

Oceans Will Rise remains haunted by that question. Where are the gentle violins of "Retour a Vega"? The windshield-wiper rhythms and synths of "Still In Love Song" and "Love and Death"? The biting lead guitar of "Allison Krausse"--and its stinging question? She lied and said she was a virgin/and I asked her which, Which version?/ Cards out on the table, Allison.

Not to say that there aren't some good songs on this album. I think "Don't Talk Down" and "Dinosaurs" are nearly as good as anything on Logic, and "Hands On Fire" and "Snakecharming the Masses" are almost as good as Logic weakest numbers. "Snow In California" employs those dreamy synths. "Rooibos/Palm Wine Drinkard" gets a bit lost in the middle and at the end, but otherwise is pretty good. "Eastern Europe" is a good one too.

The official single, "Being Here," is as infectiously sing-along as something by...uh...Keane. Don't take that wrong; it's not an insult. I like Keane. But hey, that's another band. Why reinvent that wheel? After going through this album, I still don't know who the Stills are. Something they had five years ago that was earthy and dark and had its finger on the pulse of heartbreak is missing. I honestly hope that if I keep listening to this album, I'll find it somewhere. I really want to love this band again.
COPYRIGHTED CONTENT HAS BEEN REMOVED
Being Here from Oceans Will Rise (2008)
Love and Death from Logic Will Break Your Heart (2003)
Fevered from from Logic Will Break Your Heart (2003)

MySpace | Website | Label: Arts and Crafts
Buy at Amazon, iTunes, and eMusic