Now here is something refreshing; a band releasing their second album, the first of which was blighted by its production and one-dimensional feel, returning to the sound that made their earlier material sound so welcoming.
The problem is, however refreshing the production of the album is, The Open still have a certain something missing. Maybe that it seems that every foray from dead-centre MOR pop-rock sounds forced. Even tracks like the Doves-come-Boxer Rebellion single 'We Can Never Say Goodbye' sound uneasy, while full-on trips into the embankments such as 'Forever' are almost completely ruined by the band's rigid songwriting. There are moments when The Open manage to drive their knowingly epic-rock home, such as the searing chorus of 'Seasons Of The Change' and album highlight 'My House', but these moments stand alone.
As noted earlier the band seem to happy drifting between Doves' auto-anthem pop and the Boxer Rebellion's shallow space rock and I would encourage checking the latest albums by these two bands before buying an album that is merely the sum of their parts, and not the best parts at that.
While it's a good thing for a band to try new things, when the end result is as disjointed as Statues it might be best to revert to the searing indie of tracks like 'Elevation'. An opportunity missed.
First Open album
Was one of the biggest disappointments i've had buying music. I bought it on a whim after it was described as being like early Verve. Bollocks to that.
Hmmmph. Still fairly pleasant noise, just a bit dull...
.
I loved the first album. It reminded me loads of Cocteau twins- guitars were seriously dreamy but epic at the same time. However, have listened to the second and i actually hate it, not one track i like.
First album was part good/ part awful.
I'm quite surprised they weren't dumped.
Will buy it but don't expect anything...
Very good review.
statues
this album is amazing..after first listen it didnt grab me but after 5 i was hooked.Great to see a british band trying to push the bounderies.......arcade fire,clap hands,mercury rev, the open are right up there with these guys.go buy it now...no more POP just remember why punk happened.
the open newie
this is wonderful stuff from a band who are trying to push themselves unlike most these days....this will keep you happy for years just like the guy previous said very mercury rev in its ambition...deseveves at least 9/10.
Statues
Is fantastic. It's what words like 'ethereal' were invented for. Fact.
If only it didn't have 'we can never say goodbye' on it - such a shyte track.
meh
the first album is OK...i tihnk it would be better with a little less Radiohead-by-numbers-ness to it, and the vocalist annoyed me alot.
hmmm.......
dear me mr dowling ive just downloaded statues on lime wire and am slightly worried your a bit off the mark here.
this record has just got a quality feel to it all the way down the line, the tunes rock, the lyrics sing and the artwork is a joy to behold.
NME's 8/10 is much closer to the truth.
Each to his own though.
Catch em live and feel the love
malcolm
the open
yeah mr dowling..not sure your brain is in gear. first album was a bit patchy but it sounded brilliant! new album may not be hip and dripping in the new rock cliches you seem to favour but it IS an adventurous and brave album, that is REAL and has truth behind it. even if there may be a couple of tracks i am not personally mad about, it has depth and beauty. i like artic monkeys allright but depth and beauty are non existent
i disagree
i dont really find it that adventurous. if you want an album that is adventurous whilst maintaining a good reach towards pop-rock then check out Redjetson. and brave it might be but i don't think that means it should automatically get a good review.
and im not a fan of Arctic Monkeys, check my profile. maybe there you will be able to find real examples of depth and beauty.
thanks for the comment
Jordan*
Eh?
Now, I really am a massive fan of Redjetson, so please don't take this as any sort of insult, but i wouldn't class them as *adventurous* in the same way as I would The Open's new album. Redjetson have tamed post-rock, making its marriage with more classic songwriting structures perfectly epic, in a way that Hope Of The States didn't manage well enough on their debut. But The Open don't feel so constrained, at all. 80's songwriting foundations - cocteau twins, talk talk - along with freeform jazz, the patience to allow songs to grow at their own rate, a penchant for the epic and nods to more recent bands like Radiohead, Doves and yes, The Verve, sounds pretty adventurous to me. And that boy can bloody well sing. Statues is a really brave album, and its not like they've got company. Who else is out there making music like this at the moment? The closest I can think of is Martin Grech, and that's not quite right...
sorry
but i cant see how The Open are more adventurous than Redjetson, and i wouldnt say they have tamed post-rock, even though their are certain moments in the Redjetson where you wouldnt be far from the mark.
also, i dont think The Open feel less constrained than Redjetson, they definately dont give their songs more time to grow at least.
and i think the freeform jazz comment only applies to the first track on statues.
can i make a suggestion? www.sennen.org.uk . try and get hold of their earlier 8-track EP. while i think you will like 'Widows EP' i think 'collected recordings' will be your sort of thing.
i agree with you on Hope Of The States though. good call.
Jordan*
coool
sennen sound NICE
after listening to the album
this review is quite right...
Still don't know why this band ( like the excellent Witness before them ) have been compared to the Verve.
Some good songs, but lacking a little something that'd made them special.
Masquerade...
A moody and more experimental trip than the first, but it fails to make a lasting impression...
The only true highlight is the hidden bonus track - Masquerade
6/10
What Happened?
I absolutely loved the first album and have seen the band live, but having listened to Statues, I agree with the person who said they couldn't find a single track they liked.
This reminds me of those cheesey 40s gangster films where there is someone singing in a piano bar. I could barely listen for cringeing and I don't know if I can even bring myself to listen again.
What a disappointment. What the hell happened?
A brave and extravagant effort
After listening to it constantly since it was released I have come to the conclusion that it is one of the best of the year. A 9/10 from me, an album of huge range where not one song sounds the same. Brit-pop, jazz, metal and psychedelic rock, it is all here.
I BUM THE OPEN
I appreciate this is a very behind the times comment.... but... I loved the 1st album, and this one was quite possibly, even better. Certainly magical. Ethereal is also, a highly suitable word for it. Some of the tracks do take their time, and why not, they are their songs. If they need to smoulder, let them. I was fortunate enough to see The Open quite a few times. On one occasion touring this album. Was gutted they split up, because they were a special band i think. Easily one of the best of the decade. In my humble opinion. I miss them a lot frankly. I really should have a look to see if they have moved onto other projects. Would advise anybody to listen to both albums a few times over.