Eisley - Room Noises (13 tracks) +Album Reviews

I'm just like you, so leave me alone

E. A Solinas | MD USA | 02/08/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It turns out the old saying is true: The family that plays together, stays together. Four siblings and their best pal make up indiepop group Eisley, whose debut EPs hinted at what they could do. And "Room Noises" certainly proves that their airy, whimsical pop was worth the long wait for.

Some of the songs are from those EPs, although they sound a bit tighter and smoother. For example, the heartbreaking ode to the bullied, "Telescope Eyes," or the prettily whimsical "Marvelous Things." Despite the airy poesy of the songs, there's a distinctly melancholy streak through the album, which peaks at the very beginning: "Memories," a haunting song about a woman mourning her husband's suicide.

Despite a few EP songs, they also have quite a few new songs, like the enchantingly sunny "Golly Sandra," which has echoes of the Beach Boys. But the sparkling pop vibe continues in other songs, carried over in piano melodies and smooth guitar riffs. "Still floating soft/I am dreaming and I'm glad I lost/And still with my fingers/I'm drawing circles in the water," the song goes, as fluid as the water it talks about.

That mixture of bittersweetness and innocent optimism is what makes Eisley so darn appealing. Nowhere are the stereotypical I-just-wanna-have-fun or my-boy/girlfriend-dumped-me-and-now-I-wanna-swim-with-the-toaster music for THIS pop band. While they have some love songs, the emphasis is on their enchanting kind of whimsy.

That whimsy carries over into just about whatever they sing about, whether it's Sherri and Staci singing about dragons in the woods, sunlight and butterflies, or metal teeth and "telescope eyes." Some of the lyrics seem to stray into Flaming Lips-type surrealism, but are also grounded by simple sentiments like, "You have shining eyes, yes like those forest lights, and it makes me want to cry."

After the past few years, with the group rapidly moving out of the teen bracket, one would wonder if Stacy and Sherri Dupree's angelic vocals would have gotten... well, not so pretty. No problem with that -- they sound a bit like younger versions of Beth Gibbons or perhaps Hope Sandoval. The two girls even interplay their vocals in on song, with remarkable skill and spine-tingling results.

At the start of one song, the line "Congratulations, we've finally made it" is sung. And so Eisley has -- and this promising band only shows signs of getting even better in albums to come."

Eisley is one of the best new bands out there

Paul Allaer | Cincinnati | 02/14/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"5 Stars if you're new to Eisley; 4 Stars for the rest of us

Eisley has released 2 EPs in early and late 2003, the excellent "Laughing City" and "Marvelous Things". For whatever reason, it's taken over another year for the release of their debut album. The band is in my book one of the best new bands out there, and Coldplay's Chris Martin is a big fan as well (Eisley opened for Coldplay on part of their 2003 US tour).

"Room Noises" (12 tracks, 41 min.) is full of dreamy, yet very catchy songs, not unlike, say, Sixpense None the Richer. The best songs are in the first half of the album, including the opener "Memories", "I Wasn't Prepared", "Memories" (the standout track of the album), and "Brightly Wounded" with great intertwining vocals from the sister lead singers. Other great tracks are "Plenty of Paper", a great up-tempo song, and the closer "Trolley Wood".

What keeps me from giving this 5 stars is that 4 of the songs are rehashed from the 2 EPs (in newly recorded versions), and that's disappointing to a degree for those of us that have followed Eisley from the beginning. We want more new songs! Finally, the Amazon listing shows a bonus track (a remixed version of "Lost at Sea") but the CD I bought doesn't have it, hmmmm... Regardless, Eisley is a breath of fresh air in today's music scene. Eisley is coming to Cincinnati shortly and I can't wait to see them live! "Room Noises" is highly recommended!"

Eisley = Screwed by the studio

Addison | Tyler,TX, USA | 02/17/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"What a great Indie band! they are from my home town and I have met the members on multiple occasions. However, though I love the new album, I feel that they have been a bit screwed over by the studo. The songs that made their indie career are now completely over-produced, many of them spen up beyond belief (Like Telescope Eyes, which used to be nicely mellow yet driving, is now just fast). Also, the music has lost a bit of its genuine lo-fi indie endearing quality. The music is no less amazing than it was, but I believe that the EPs are a must for anyone truely wanting to enjoy Eisley."

Absolutely Amazing

Clark | Austin Tx | 02/12/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After catching an Eisley show recently, I became instantly hooked. I couldn't wait to get my hands on this cd. And let me just say, it is simply amazing. Every track has lots to offer, combining dreamy vocals and pianos with catchy guitars. Its so different from anything I've ever heard, and thats what makes Eisley such a great band. Some of the stand out tracks include "Telescope Eyes"-an extremely catchy tune in which the vocals nearly reach out and grab you, "Golly Sandra"-another catchy one, a little more upbeat and different than alot of the other songs on the cd, "I wasn't prepared"-a more intimate song in which The vocals are really unique and pleasing to the ear, and and my personal favorite - "Marvelous Things"-I have never heard anything like this, it is simply stunning. This cd is definately a fantastic buy. Worth every single penny.

"

Finally, the promising LP debut! But buy the EPs also.

G. Hwang | Houston, TX United States | 02/12/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The producers were here alright, most obviously on their 4 songs that were released on the earlier EPs. Production is not bad, but the attempts to make Eisley's music more accessible, less eclectic, and catchier worked. The music will never be entirely mainstream radio-friendly, but on some tracks, the producers were unsubtly pushing in that direction. I would buy both EPs ("Marvelous Things" and "Laughing City") in addition to this album, if you want the rawer versions.

Lyrics filled with fantastical imagery, such as magical woods, mermaids, butterflies, pollen and rippled water provide the backdrop for Eisley's themes. Voices to match. Stacy and Sherri have noteworthy voices separately, but their interlaced melodies and harmonies, no one else sounds like this. It is particularly impressive that Stacy, just turned age 16, sounds slightly-raspy alto with mild psychedelia.

I sincerely enjoy every single track on the album.

(1) "Memories" is a misty, nostalgic weeper with harmonious hope.

(2) "Telescope Eyes" is practically twice the speed here, with an omitted verse, this anthem chorus of a song whizzes by. Eisley did not want this song on the album originally, but the producers pushed for it, knowing this would be most likely to become a single. We all know how "first single released" is rarely an accurate indication for public debut as to the essence of the band. Case in point: "Yellow" by Coldplay or "Creep" by Radiohead.

(3) Sherri's vocals soar on "I Wasn't Prepared" that I stand in wonder how she pulls off this song night after night on tour.

(4) "Golly Sandra" is so addictively indie slide-guitar that it evokes the same reaction from me as "Gone for Good" by The Shins does. I read one review that the song made him want to stutter the beginning of every word - I completely agree.

(5) "Marvelous Things" is the child of children who obsessively read Lord of the Rings, dragons, and other fantasies.

(6) "Brightly Wound" is fairly simple in concept, but the harmonies and delayed interplay... that is Eisley's aural trademark.

(7) The original version of "Lost at Sea" makes me wonder why a remix of this song was included at the end. I purchased the album without the extra track, and I'm glad, because the magic ending of "Trolley Wood" is near-killed with the remix.

(8) The constant flux of minor-major chords in "My Lovely" paired with a driving beat, makes one of the more head-bopping rockable tracks.

(9) The most acoustic track on the album belongs to "Just Like They Do," which highlights Stacy on guitar instead of her usual Rhodes. A beautiful ballad.

(10) I had read "Plenty of Paper" sounds as if it belongs in some Tim Burton film. Nothing to add, because it is just that eerie-fun.

(11) Do not let the sparse slow introduction of "One Day I Slowly Floated Away" deceive you. This band rarely leaves music that straightforward.

(12) When I heard the finger-snapping beginning of "Trolley Wood," which then continued on, I fell in love with this song. One of the catchiest songs and personal favorite to have the word "hallelujah" included, not intended as blasphemy.

4.5 out of 5 stars. There's growth potential, and I am excited about their future.

Additional note: Having seem them live in concert 3 times now, these kids are so incredibly humble, unassuming and kind, I wish them all the best."

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