4Play

March 16, 2005

The Stands - All Years Leaving - Echo Records
Liverpool’s The Stands have probably heard enough Beatle comparisons by now - especially with talented singer Howie Payne often echoing the tonalities of John Lennon - but that’s only one of the many reasons they’ve gained the attention of “civilian” fans as well as celeb mentors like Oasis’ Noel Gallagher. Yeah, they might be influenced by the Fab Four’s jangling chords, but there are also sounds ranging from Bob Dylan’s growls to The Byrds’ gorgeous harmonies here to prove that the whole is more than just the sum of its parts. Those aforementioned harmonies ring through to great effect on tracks like “Love You Give,” with other must-listens including “It’s Only Everything” and the title track, which is both wistful and pretty; the closer, “Way She Does” amps things up a bit, and if The Stands keep doing things the way they do, they might break stateside sooner than one might think.


The Verve - This Is Music: The Singles 92-98 - Virgin Records
Ever since the demise of the North England band The Verve in 1999, fans have glommed on to anything that lead singer Richard Ashcroft has put out there in the hopes of recapturing some of what drew them in to The Verve in the first place. However, Ashcroft’s solo stuff - although quite worthy on its own - still doesn’t capture the formula that made this band a standout. No, it’s not a new Verve album - although there are two new tracks (the simple but effective “This Could Be My Moment” and the trippy “Monte Carlo,” from the Urban Hymns sessions) - but this collection is a pleasant walk down Verve-Memory-Lane, in large part because, instead of arranging the songs chronologically, they’re arranged to flow almost seamlessly in mood from track to track. This disc is also a good introduction to the band for those newbies whose Verve knowledge is limited to “Bittersweet Symphony.”

The Beta Band - Heroes to Zeros - Astralwerks
Remember that scene in the John Cusack movie, High Fidelity where the main character puts The Beta Band on in his record store in order to make a few guaranteed sales? That’s the kind of music The Beta Band puts out - under the radar, perhaps, but once you hear it, you’ve gotta find out just what it is you’re listening to. This effort is a mixed bag, with plenty of tweaks and burbles going on to push forward the band’s unique song approaches - you’ll find yourself hearing different things within the mixes each time you listen, from the uber-catchy “Space” to the funky “Easy,” the romantic sounds of “Pure For” to the loose round of “Troubles.” Equal parts trendy electropop and upbeat craftsmanship, it’s more dense than their previous work, but no less compelling.



Frou Frou - Details - MCA Records
With Frou Frou catching the edge of the spotlight due to their inclusion in the soundtrack for the hit indie film Garden State, it seems like a good time to revisit what was a woefully underappreciated debut disc. The pairing of producer Guy Sigsworth (who works regularly with the likes of Madonna and Bjork) with the brooding, lush yet airy vocals of Imogen Heap was someone’s great idea, for sure - and luckily, it’s the listener that benefits - there doesn’t seem to be a single clunker on this album of lovelorn songs and graceful trip-hop/electronica musings. Synthesizers shift and blur underneath Heap’s vocals, complimented by piano, guitar, and electronic burblings; this foundation perfectly serves songs like “Let Go” (the Garden State pick), “The Dumbing Down of Love,” and “Shh.”