Oceans Will Rise

The Stills surprised everybody with their sophomore album Without Feathers. The working man's rock was in stark contrast to the post-punkish appeal of Logic Will Break Your Heart. But you already know that story.....most were disappointed with the follow-up, as it flew in the face of what seemed trendy at the time. I for one didn't have any qualms with Feathers, in fact I loved it, as it contained some of the most cohesive songs the band's released, albeit in a more straightforward rock and roll package. Last night I had the pleasure of skipping downtown after work to catch everything but the first three songs of their set with Hollerado, a tour meant to give fans a glimpse into their debut for Arts & Crafts, entitled Oceans Will Rise. Overall, new material = promising. Hard to say if it will translate on record with the same force, but the new stuff in concert, sung primarily by original lead vocalist Tim Fletcher, was in the key of pissed-off. Understandable I guess, when a band starts out being touted by every publication as a champion of a new breed, only to be swallowed whole by a pseudo-genre aped by a hundred forgetful bands. The new songs still had the immediate rock and roll of Feathers, sung with the disapproving angst of Logic. I've since found a few of the songs floating around, including lead single "Being Here," and the heavy (even heavier live) "Rooibos/Palm Wine Drunkard." The new Stills will turn some heads when Oceans rise Aug. 19th.

The Stills - Being Here
The Stills - Rooibos/Palm Wine Drinkard

- BA