Reviews
The Isles
Perfumed Lands
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Add to del.ico.us.Review Date: 2007-02-16
The task of a reviewer/critic is a difficult one, both because trying to describe something that's best experienced personally is in itself a challenge. The biggest struggle, however, doesn't come in defining great or terrible experiences -- it falls in describing mediocrity.
So, I start this review of The Isles debut release called Perfumed Lands, with a question: How does one put pen to paper and tell our faithful readers how an album can manage to be neither good nor bad, ending up smack dab in the middle? I don't know how lead singer Andrew Geller and his New York City quartet managed to do it, but listen to Perfumed Lands and perhaps you'll see what I mean. Trust me, it's a lot easier to describe something you're truly passionate about than it does to tell someone about that album that was 'so-so.'
Hate and love are so much easier. For instance, the song "Flying Under Cheap Kites," which I both enjoy, and despise. Undoubtedly this is meant to be the album's strongest song -- hence its release as a single. Here, we have an interesting send up -- it's catchy and upbeat. But wait, look at the lyrics for a second: "I'd be dead/but there's nothing worth dying for."
While that line is nothing unusual -- how many emo bands have adopted this schtick -- Geller is quite blaise as he sings this. This is a bold declaration and shouldn't be sung as if Geller is going to the store to buy milk. Indeed, this song is symptomatic of the entire album. The lyrics are often dark and depressing -- which is off-putting and out-of-context when you consider what they're singing about. It's almost as if the band couldn't make up their minds on what kind of album they wanted to create.
At the same time, Perfumed Lands is a comfortable and pleasant album. Take "Terraforming" for example, which is a nice, safe indie rock song. It's got the simple guitar chord structure I truly appreciate in music. It's not challenging to the ear -- indeed, this and many other songs draw upon some tired cliches. But cliches are employed for a reason: they work. To drive the point home, many of the songs aren't particularly original, but there's a time and a place for this kind of music.
I envision sitting around with friends, talking in a comfortable room, a large fire going and plenty of alcohol available. In other words, a relaxing atmosphere. Perhaps this image is misleading -- I developed it through initial listens in my car. While driving, I thoroughly enjoyed this album since, as I said earlier, it's comfortable and relatively safe indie rock music. Closer listens yielded otherwise, but that initially favourable reaction has stuck with me -- and is one key reason why I won't be failing this album.
Thematically, Perfumed Lands is an album addressed at a partner -- as the frequent use of 'you' reveals. This, again, isn't groundbreaking. This is clear on "Eve of Battle" a song that's subtley dedicated to fornication of all forms. "I've got some things on my mind/That I want to do to you. Are you coming? I'll do what you want to me." Well, perhaps the word subtle was misplaced. Blatant, perhaps, works better.
From their website and touring schedule, it appears as if The Isles are doing well with their debut. I wish them Well and can see success in their future.
This album would probably play well on commercial radio -- if they were ever discovered. It's got that lightness/darkness element that tends to work well. "Flying Under Cheap Kites," is fairly radio-friendly, so perhaps it'll get some attention.
I don't exactly think that attention is all that well deserved. This album, as I've hammered home, is mediocre at best. But how many bands release stunning debuts? Not many. My message to the band would be: take advantage of your talent, drop the moroseness and get to making a great album. I'm sure you have it in you.
Tracks to Check Out: "Terraforming" is my only highlight Tracks to Avoid: Not a huge fan of "Post Nobles"
Score: 6.2
- Kyle Rea