I 'found' this band about a month ago when a friend suggested I check out their myspace. They impressed me so much that I immediately bought their album, and went to see them play live the following week.
I was reading the bio on their website (which includes a great story about how they almost got arrested as terrorists!) - the band members have eclectic musical backgrounds that include jazz, classical, soul, reggae, folk, musicals - you name it. Needless to say, this variety filters into the music they make, but one common thread is a strong sense of melody.
A couple of the songs on the album ('Miles Away' and 'Nature's Alibi') sound to me as if they might have fallen off The Beatles' 'White Album' (McCartney section) or possibly an early Wings album. 'Goodbye For A While' is reminiscent of an Elvis Presley ballad and tiptoes around doo-wop territory. In contrast, 'Death Of A Star' sounds like something Muse might sing (and that's a big compliment, coming from me). There's a couple of mellow numbers, mixed in with some bouncier tracks; listen for their harmonies too - they're lush. I'm a pushover for a great bassline, and the one on 'The Return' is stunning. When they played that song live, I couldn't drag my eyes away from the bass player's fingers.
