Thursday, August 09, 2007


The Eisenhowers – Almost Half Undressed (Serali).

Useless Love is the opening track on this album from another new Scottish band. It is an airy and haunting well crafted song although a little on the long side. Novelty Act has a catchy chorus but the vocalist, Raymond Weir, is a bit light on it although he more than redeems himself on the rest of the album. 25 O’Clock opens with alarm clocks and pinging bass & synths from Paul Gray and Ronan Breslin respectively -- think The La’s or The Coral. and Consequently also has a strange Liverpudlian feel to it and builds the belief that we have another good band on our hands. I can hear Teenage Fanclub, BMX Bandits and Cosmic Rough Riders in this one. Let’s Not Talk About Me is Indie rock of a high calibre and The Abracadabra Man (no, not Steve Miller) is acoustic Indie rock that borders on folk/progressive rock.

The melodic Jigsaw confirms their professional attitude. If Satellites Should Fall is back to the acoustic side but is one of the weaker tracks. I’m sure that the good idea and eerie feeling behind this song could be re-worked. Mr & Mrs Frankenstein is an eccentric little tune and, remarkably, it works. The quirky vocal is a la Elvis – Costello, that is. If I Had To Make A List confirms their dedication to the melody. Constantinople (or is it Istanbul – ok, my jokes are getting worse) is acoustic with shades of the soft rock of 70s band, America. Plastic Jesus keeps its base on the acoustic side but does creep up on you (no pun intended) and makes for a strong finish to the album. Eisenhowers are superb in parts, due mainly to the song writing skills of Weir; I hope that they haven’t missed the boat.

http://www.serali.co.uk/

David Blue.

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