Eisley

[KnightOfDayJC12]

I don't know if anyone around here likes Eisley, but they have some new stuff up.  You can now hear 3 songs off of their upcoming record, "Room Noises", which hits stores on February 8th, plus a remix of one of those songs.  Here you go:

"Telescope Eyes" (Quicktime)
"Telescope Eyes" (Windows Media Player, 128k/fast)
"Telescope Eyes" (Windows Media Player, 56k/slow)

"Golly Sandra" (Quicktime)
"Golly Sandra" (Windows Media Player, 128k/fast)
"Golly Sandra" (Windows Media Player, 56k/slow)

"Lost At Sea" (Quicktime)
"Lost At Sea" (Windows Media Player, 128k/fast)
"Lost At Sea" (Windows Media Player, 56k/slow)

"Lost At Sea (Remix)"  (Quicktime)
"Lost At Sea (Remix)"  (Windows Media Player, 128k/fast)
"Lost At Sea (Remix)" (Windows Media Player, 56k/slow)

You can watch their video for "Marvelous Things", featuring the version off of "The Marvelous Things EP", here.
You can join their e-team, E-Merge, by clicking here.

I can not wait until the album is in stores.  I can't really explain why I like them so much, they just don't 'fit' with the bands I usually listen to, but they are easily one of my favorites even without having released a full-length album.  What do y'all think about the new songs?

[-TheWanderer-]

i don't understand all the hype about this band

[dgp11776]

I've been previewing this album for a few days now.  I'm liking what I'm hearing - I expect this will be a purchase for me.  I can definitely hear similarities to Sixpence with Room Noises.  The harmony is truly impeccable, I'll say that...in fact, I feel quite swoony.

[Josh]

i don't understand all the hype about this band

Roger that. They have some good melodies, but their sound is too derivative for my tastes; there are far too many echoes of Sixpence and other bands, and far too few original ideas. Their lyrics also smack of sentimentality and mediocre, high-schoolish writing skills.

But then, I've only heard three songs, so I'm hardly qualified to offer an authoritative opinion on the band. And, if DGP likes them, then I should probably give them another chance.

[KnightOfDayJC12]

For some reason I was really into them a few months ago, but I haven't bought this album yet and don't know that I will.  They are pretty young (I believe they range from 16 to 22), and the lyrics are written by two of the younger members.  I never listened to Sixpence much, so I don't know about those comparisons, but I do know that their songs became pretty boring to me after a few weeks of listening.

[murlough23]

I just finished downloading Room Noises, so I'll let you know what I think of it after a few listens. It sounds intriguing, but from the few songs I've sampled, I can see how they could get a bit repetitive. Their sound, while reminiscent of Sixpence and a little bit of Chasing Furies, actually sounds a lot closer to an obscure 5 Minute Walk band called Rivulets & Violets. Anyone remember them?

NP: "Drought", Vienna Teng

[Aaron]

Their lyrics also smack of sentimentality and mediocre, high-schoolish writing skills.

 

Well they are teenagers.

[murlough23]

There's a difference between writing about things that teenagers are typically concerned about, and writing them in a trite, unimaginative, and grammatically/vocabluarily-challenged manner.

NP: "Along the Way", Olivia the Band

[dgp11776]

Yeah, they probably are over-hyped as being the "best thing ever."  Don't look for anything super-original here.  I just seem to have fallen into the trap of loving their sound.  I think they do sound quite a bit like Sixpence, but I happen to think they are about 100 times better vocally.  And, for me, vocals play a pretty big role in my enjoyment of music.

[Josh]

Hmmm... I may have to reconsider my response to the album. In their new issue, PASTE gives the album a very respectable 3.5 stars out of 5. Here's a link to their review.

[dgp11776]

Hmmm... I may have to reconsider my response to the album. In their new issue, PASTE gives the album a very respectable 3.5 stars out of 5. Here's a link to their review.

That's a really good review.  I agree that there is just something about this album that sucks me in.  I'm still deciding on a grade, but I'm thinking of a B+/B range.

[murlough23]

I'm slowly getting sucked in. My initial reaction was that I liked their sound. Sure, it was derivative of Sixpence and Chasing Furies, but those are both great bands who aren't around any more, so I don't mind the baton being passed. My second reaction was to think that they were a little too girly-sounding and definitely overhyped, and their songs settled into a familiar lull. My latest reaction is that I'm really getting hooked on a lot of these songs and I'm starting to notice the variation a lot more.

Early favorites include "Memories", "Golly Sandra", "Marvelous Things", and "Just Like We Do".

[dgp11776]

Early favorites include "Memories", "Golly Sandra", "Marvelous Things", and "Just Like We Do".

I go with "Memories," "I Wasn't Prepared," "Golly Sandra," "Marvelous Things," and "Plenty of Paper."

I think Josh would drool over "Golly Sandra."

[murlough23]

I go with "Memories," "I Wasn't Prepared," "Golly Sandra," "Marvelous Things," and "Plenty of Paper."

"I Wasn't Prepared" is pretty sweet, too. "Plenty of Paper" is kind of an oddity. Not a bad song, but it definitely comes out of left field. Someone compared its intro to a Tim Burton movie soundtrack in their review.

I think Josh would drool over "Golly Sandra."

Josh drools over just about anything with lap steel in it.

NP: "Wake Me Up When September Ends", Green Day

[Escuchame]

My take on Room Noises is nearly identical to that of Murlough.

It's creepy.

[dgp11776]

My wife likes this, too.  I love it when we both like an album.  That way, I'm not forced to listen to Rascal Flatts quite so often.  I've gotten her into The Shins, Sleeping At Last, Coldplay, Delirious?, and Mat Kearney, among others.  It's nice to expand her taste beyond country, Avalon, and Casting Crowns!

[DvChWi]

My take on Room Noises is nearly identical to that of Murlough.

It's creepy.

Mmm...good review.  I'll have to look into this one.

[murlough23]

My take on Room Noises is nearly identical to that of Murlough.

It's creepy.

Indeed. Now there's something you don't see every day.

But I'm willing to bet my take on Strong Tower will also be identical to yours. We'll find out soon enough.

[eatahouse]

I just finished downloading Room Noises, so I'll let you know what I think of it after a few listens.

I'm just curious: What do you use to download music?

Anyways, I'm loving Eisley!!! (Look at my avatar/siggy) It's my favorite album of the year so far. The music seems to be a mix of S-NTR and Coldplay, and the vox are amazing! (unlike S-NTR's, when Leigh's vocals sometimes could get irritating)

[murlough23]

I'm just curious: What do you use to download music?

Soulseek.

[Josh]

I just listened to 4 MP3s from this album, and I hate to say it, but I was boooooored out of my mind!

[murlough23]

I just listened to 4 MP3s from this album, and I hate to say it, but I was boooooored out of my mind!

Which 4?

[Wildcatblue7]

I just can't stand the vocals . . . they seem kind of shrill to me, I guess.

[Brenden]

Is Soulseek a legal service?

[Josh]

Which 4?

"Telescope Eyes," "Golly Sandra," "Lost at Sea," and one other that I can't remember the name of.

[eatahouse]

"Telescope Eyes," "Golly Sandra," "Lost at Sea," and one other that I can't remember the name of.

"I Wasn't Prepared"? Or "Lost At Sea Remix"

[Josh]

"I Wasn't Prepared"? Or "Lost At Sea Remix"

Yes, it was the former, I believe. Definitely not a remix.

[murlough23]

I thought most of Over the Rhine's stuff was boring when I first heard it, especially on Ohio. Obviously I feel differently now. So don't count Eisley out just yet.

I should upload "Marvelous Things" or "Just Like We Do", or maybe "Memories". I think those are amazing songs.

But I can see certain people here not liking them. Eisley, while they have more poetic lyrics, isn't one of those dark bands that plays around with dichotomies and difficult subject matter a lot. A lot of their songs are unabashedly happy, and personally, I have no problem with that as long as it's done in an artful manner.

[eatahouse]

http://www.epinions.com/content_176145731204

That's my take on the album, if any of you want to read it...

I'm obsessed with the album. With an exception of two of the tracks, they're all amazingly impressive. I'm not a big fan of the Pop sound, but Eisley is really able to keep it interesting.

[Josh]

I thought most of Over the Rhine's stuff was boring when I first heard it, especially on Ohio. Obviously I feel differently now. So don't count Eisley out just yet.

I should upload "Marvelous Things" or "Just Like We Do", or maybe "Memories". I think those are amazing songs.

But I can see certain people here not liking them. Eisley, while they have more poetic lyrics, isn't one of those dark bands that plays around with dichotomies and difficult subject matter a lot. A lot of their songs are unabashedly happy, and personally, I have no problem with that as long as it's done in an artful manner.

I don't mind music that's happy, either; after all, many of The Innocence Mission's songs are like that. Same for Ron Sexsmith.

What I don't like about Eisley is the generall lack of artfullness and invention. There just doesn't seem like there's anything to distinguish them from other, similar-sounding bands out there. If I heard another artist covering these songs, how would I be able to tell that they're Eisley's?

Not that I'm trying to give anyone grief over liking Eisley. Nor am I giving my final judgement on the album; after all, I've just heard four or five songs. I'm just explaining why the first few listens haven't grabbed my attention.

[murlough23]

^ Fair enough, though I don't think any of the songs you described best display Eisley's creative side. ("Golly Sandra" is one of my favorites, but more for its whimsical tone. I do think that song has a lame chorus.)  I can definitely see the similarities to Sixpence, and understand your concern there, but hey, we don't have Sixpence any more, so I'm personally OK with another band picking up the torch and running with it.

I think most of Eisley's songs are much more distinctive (in comparison to one another) than the Innocence Mission's. Befriended - now there's an album that I can't bring myself to be anything but utterly bored with.

NP: "Plenty of Paper", Eisley

[Josh]

I think most of Eisley's songs are much more distinctive (in comparison to one another) than the Innocence Mission's. Befriended - now there's an album that I can't bring myself to be anything but utterly bored with.

 

Oh... it's ON now!  =)

Nah, seriously, The Innocence Mission has their own sound that stands out as completelu unique and distinctive. Now, whether or not that sound is interesting to you is a whole other discussion, but I don't think anyone can accuse The Innocence Mission of having a derivative sound.

For what its worth, I think Befriended has the best production of any IM album, but, to me, Bird of My Neighborhood is still their masterpiece.

[dgp11776]

I think most of Eisley's songs are much more distinctive (in comparison to one another) than the Innocence Mission's. Befriended - now there's an album that I can't bring myself to be anything but utterly bored with.
 

I'll definitely side with you there.

   I thought for sure Josh would like "Golly Sandra."  Oh well, just goes to show I can't guess other people's taste.

[Wildcatblue7]

I sort of like Eisley's sound--I just hate the vocals.  Of course, I haven't heard many songs.  Which ones should I check out?

[dgp11776]

I sort of like Eisley's sound--I just hate the vocals.  Of course, I haven't heard many songs.  Which ones should I check out?

Well, unfortunately for you, they sing on all of the songs...  =D

I would go with "Marvelous Things," "Memories," and "I Wasn't Prepared."  If you don't like those, then you probably won't like any of them.  But I could be wrong...again.

And, I must say, I laughed when you commented on their vocals being "shrill."  This from a scream-o fan.    

[Wildcatblue7]

yeah, but screams usually sound deeper and more manly.  haha.

marvelous things is one of the ones I heard.  I really like the melody, just not that daggone voice.

Then again, I was never a Sixpence fan either and Leigh and the Eisley chicks sound alike to me.

[dgp11776]

[Wildcatblue7]

[murlough23]

I can sort of see the Leigh Nash thing, but I think the Eisley gals are a lot better than her.  I always thought Leigh Nash sounded like a marshmallow singing.

That's funny, because sometimes I think Jon Foreman sounds like a Muppet singing.

[dgp11776]

That's funny, because sometimes I think Jon Foreman sounds like a Muppet singing.

Jeromy Deibler of FFH sounds like a constipated man singing on the toilet.