Guillemots : Red
 

This cover reminds me of that one Nsync music video which brings me to my next point. Big Dog sounds like a Justin Timberlake song. Kriss Kross would be cool if it wasn't for the Muse-esque string thing they do, which seems to be the problem with quite a few tracks. They're good songs but theirs useless frills, Get Over It has those weird 90s sitcom keyboards in it in the chorus, totally unnecessary. There was some of this on their first album but on there it came across as charming and quirky here it seems pretentious and unnecessary.

I loved Through the Windowpane but this doesn't touch it at all. Where's the gentle coyness of Made Up Love Song #43 or intimacy of Redwings? This is too inconsistent and I can't help but be disappointed. I mean it's not like it's awful but compared to there first album it's just...not as good. Fyfe also needs to lay off the falsetto =/ I vote average.

Just listenng to it now. I have never heard their first album so my opinion will probably be different to yours Ethan. I will post a full review in time.

I had read on the interwebs, that Guillemots were eclectic and a little difficult to pigeon hole. Balderdash and piffle. They are a pop band, simple as that. Sure there are elements of rock, dance and string work but it is still pop. Herein the problem lies, while the album does'nt offend me in the slightest, I find myself running out of patience towards the end and putting something else on.

The production is very good and the musicianship is fine but there is'nt anything really new on here to pique my interest. When it's a genre that I just dabble in then it has to be something damn special for me to like it.

HOWEVER. There is one little gem buried away on here and that is Falling Out Of Reach, which is one of the best acoustic pop songs I have heard for a while. It slowly builds almost soul like to glorious pop nirvana and is more like the sound that is on their debut which I may have to checkout.

Falling Out Of Reach: