Album Review: Angelas Dish - 'War on Time'
The debut album from these four Gosford lads is indeed a toe-tapper and a must for any young Indie/Rock fan
There is something
about these four lads from Gosford, New South Wales that I just adore.
Maybe it’s my secret fetish for poppy hooks and charming looking front
men but amidst all the harsh reviews this album is getting I actually
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quite enjoyed it.
It is an album
you really have to spin a few times to learn the dips, riffs and lyrics
to really enjoy and pick up on all the little things that you may not
have in the beginning. In terms of technicality there is nothing strictly
bad about this album although I can see where others have developed
the notion that it is rather bland and heavy on the pop and commercial
sensibilities.
The first single
off the album Soft November that opens with this addictive driving groove
that directs you to this memorable chorus that sees me singing into
a hair brush as I imagine myself up on stage, rocking out the microphone
stand to a screaming audience. This melody is certain to stick in your
head for days but not in a Kylie Minogue ‘Can’t get you out of my
head kill me now’ way but a sickly sweet pop track that is guaranteed
to annoy those around you but leaves you feeling humble and tapping
along. (Also the film clip is a must see; cite underwater gigging)
One of my favourites
is track 10, Hollow. Some serious passion and thought has been put into
this track and it is the most personal of all the 12. Everything
from the melody to the vocals tips this song as the best produced and
it almost seems as though it belongs on a different album, a more mature,
older type of record that deals with a different deeper subject matter.
It’s clear the
band are in it for the long haul, creating a strong debut album that
developed from a much sharper, rockier edge in their past EP releases
to this more mature sound. The subject matter may be light and airy
and the lyrics can often seem pointless and throw away with central
themes of girls and the baggage they bring of heart break and desperation,
the way the songwriters connect with personal relationships, and other
content often explored by young artists. However, there are some rare
moments of genius that leave the listener in a comfortable and inviting
atmosphere, almost waiting to explore the motive behind the songs.
The songwriting
team of brothers Michael and Joshua Harris may only be in its formative
stages, but the young duo have already made it clear that they have
the ear and heart for melodies and song structures far beyond their
years of experience.
that does worry me is because of the good looks, soft sounds and soulful
licks it will come with a frighteningly large hoard of dedicated under
age fans. In doing so the band will have trouble breaking into a new
click when they release their next album which I believe will be more
developed in a harder rock sound and the prominent direction the band
is heading into if their live act has anything to do with it.
War on Time isn’t
about singles or short lived fandom; it quite simply is an introduction
for the young band. It’s the type of CD that gets better each listen
and every song stands alone. This punchy pop record is only the beginning
and a warm up for their amazing live shows.
1. Soft November
2. Seven Years
3. When The End Comes
4. Piano Song
5. Yeah…But Not Tonight
6. Memory
7. It’s All In The Stars
8. Lucky One
9. Hollow
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