EMI'S Other Great UK Hope to Conquer the Us Market Gets a Further Boost with their Sophomore Set of Tunes. Production Duties Are Handled by John Leckie and Danton Suppie, Save for Two Tracks Polished by Gun Totin' Uber-pro... more »ducer Phil Spector. Starsailor Benefit Greatly from his Influence and have Constructed a Second Set that Streches their Musical Vocabulary and Versatility with Songs that Showcase their Increased Proficiency at the Act of Practicing their Art.« less
EMI'S Other Great UK Hope to Conquer the Us Market Gets a Further Boost with their Sophomore Set of Tunes. Production Duties Are Handled by John Leckie and Danton Suppie, Save for Two Tracks Polished by Gun Totin' Uber-producer Phil Spector. Starsailor Benefit Greatly from his Influence and have Constructed a Second Set that Streches their Musical Vocabulary and Versatility with Songs that Showcase their Increased Proficiency at the Act of Practicing their Art.
"starsailor is just great, this album believe me it puts starsailor to the level of coldplay....and others great indie bands from the UK.they sound better now, their songs are better, everything is better now for starsailor.really, if you like "Love is Here", you will love this one.the highlights of the album are "Silence is Easy", "Some of Us", "White Dove","Fidelity", "Born Again" and "Telling Them" and the other songs are as good as these ones.i think that Some of Us is probably their best song so far.if you like good music you most own this one."
Hope the boat doesnt sink
vedderoh1 | NJ United States | 11/13/2003
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Two years ago, when we didn't have the luxury of getting imports so easily, the only option was to trade music online. And that's how I got a hold of unreleased demos and pre-recordindg sessions from a great band called Starsailor. When I finally heard the studio album, it blew my mind away. James voice and those poignant lyrics made me melt every time I played the damn CD. So the expectation for the new one was big. The first single off Silence is easy shows the old Starsailor: anthemic lyrics and excellent music. But as we listen to the rest of the album, the comparisons with Love is here are obvious. There is not a constant level of quality, to call it some way, in all the songs. We go from great (Restless soul, Born again, Some of us) to, unfortunately, conventional (Music was saved, Bring my love). Even the spectacular Four to the floor kind of falls into that average sound towards the end. Overall this CD is not bad, but is not outstanding like the debut either. Maybe a few more listens will make me change my mind, but as of now I still expect more from James and co. They can do it, they have done it before. And they have proved that live they can kick anyone's butt. Bittersweet experience, but better than what is out around here."
Dont listen to the knockers, this is what music is all about
Elana | Sydney, Australia. | 01/10/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Absolutely brilliant record with barely any fillers.Anyone who slams this album does not appreciate quality music,and can stick with Britney and Backstreet Boys for all I care.They have the potential to be huge,thanks to unique singer/song-writer James Walsh.Just 24,but displaying maturity far beyond his years.The man is a G-d (not a bad compliment coming from a lesbian)and can craft a fine tune.They first grabbed me with ''Good Souls''.Their wonderful debut single from million seller ''Love is here'',but second album ''Silence is easy'' far surpasses that.Record kicks off with the catchy ''Music was saved'' and just gets better.Favourites include the title cut''silence is easy,four to the floor, shark food,fidelity,and born again.Two words left - BUY IT !!"
Music was saved
E. A Solinas | MD USA | 04/19/2005
(3 out of 5 stars)
"There's really nothing BAD about Starsailor. Their singing and instrumentation are pleasant but nothing special, and their Britpop-lite sound is unlikely to win converts, but please fans. "Silence is Easy," their sophomore album, has some truly wonderful songs, but stumbles over its own maudlin pretensions.
It kicks off on a positive note, with the dancey upbeat pop of "Music Was Saved," and follows up with the electric-violin sound of "Bring My Love," and the piano-thumping title track. It's fun when these guys break out the grittier instrumentation, giving an edge to their basic melodies. Call me weird, but I like the band dark and strange.
Unfortunately, about half the songs cross the line into... well, goopiness. Often the melodies are quite pretty, with ripply guitar and airy sound effects. But James Walsh seems to be trying to wring every ounce of possible angst from the songs. In a nutshell, he sounds melodramatic, wailing above the music that someone should, "Put away your doubt,/That would help us out,/Just be sure to call before you cry." Erg.
The basic pop instrumentation is nothing special, with some nice percussion and guitar, but not much to write home about. But Starsailor spices things up a little by adding in a handful of unique musical flourishes. One song opens with a harmonica over the guitar melody, and "Telling Them" climaxes with a truly exquisite, uplifting string solo.
Starsailor is, oddly enough, not at their best when they are upbeat and poppy, or even depressed and angsty. (No emo!) "Shark Food" is perhaps the best song of the album -- eerie pop melodies, and some deeply disturbing lyrics: "Sunshine in the glory skies, when the broken men open up their eyes... We're stepping through the door, we're shooting from the heart/But if we get it wrong, they'll feed us to the sharks." Walsh delivers them in a grave, almost stoned-sounding voice.
Starsailor gets mopey in their sophomore album "Silence Is Easy," but they have some standout songs that keep it from being a tearstained sobfest. If they follow the darker, grittier paths on here, then the boys will have it made."