Album Review – The Heavenly States
The Debut Album From the San Fransisco Pop Rock Saviors
When a band’s debut album starts with a bouncing violin line and then after a minute evolves into a chorus of “Hey! Hey! Everybody’s gonna die today!” they’ve got some explaining to do. Fortunately for the Heavenly States, the explanation is both simple and easy: a mastery of rocking pop.
Rocking Pop and Pop that Rocks
Opening barn-burner “The Story Of” sets the tone for the angular pop found on the rest of the album, but in the case of the next track/lead off single “My Friends,” the States prove that they are no strangers to pop that rocks.
In between choruses and psychedelic guitar/violin lines in 6/8 and constantly building verses in 4/4, lead singer/guitarist Ted Nesseth crafts a flowing set of lyrics that should no doubt set them apart from the Coldplay crowd they are likely to be lumped in with (a split with Coldplay and the Postal Service from 2003 isn’t helping to make the majority think they’re not a “ballad band”).
From there they move onto “Beyond the Great Beyond,” and if Nesseth’s trademark register-topping vocals aren’t enough to make this a great song, then the bridge surely is. With sparse harmonized vocals, a time bomb ticking, and a final explosion, “Beyond”’s bridge is second only to the one on pianist/violinist/vocalist Genevieve Gagon’s sole contribution to the album (“Gin and Tonic”).
The band gets a little silly on “Carwash,” what with their 80’s keyboard sounds, but it’s catchier than the plague and killer live. “Senseless Beauty” is easily the strongest rocker here, with its driving drums (thanks to Gen’s brother Jeremy), echoed background vocals from Gen, and the most clever lyrics this side of the Hold Steady (“The queen she will reign/and the rain just makes me wet/the wet is so sexual/sex just complicates it”).
Vibes from the 80s, Edges from the Future, and Tenderness for Right Now
The aforementioned “Gin and Tonic” brings more 80’s vibes to the table, with Prince-like threats (more along the lines of “I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man” than “Dirty Mind”), and it is followed immediately by an atmospheric ballad that jams along (not drags) for seven minutes before coming to a close.
“American Borders” brings the attitude, and even foreshadows the harder edge that’d show up on 2005’s Black Comet. Aside from start-stop rhythms and crunch to spare, this track contains the single greatest utterance of the word “androgyny,” ever. Another excellent violin line and another hook laden chorus are served up in the form of “New Parade” before the album closes with the beautiful acoustic ballad “Hangar.” This last track is absolutely gorgeous, boasting the best melody on an album full of them.
A Hard Pop Classic
Instead of being too hard for the casual pop fans, and too light for the rockers, The Heavenly States walks the line that makes it good for everyone. In any collection with Cheap Trick, Big Star, The Replacements, or Weezer, this album should fit right at home.
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The Heavenly States Self-Titled Debut Album
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