Stairsailor: Love is Here
01-28-02 | 06:42 PM
#1
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Stairsailor: Love is Here
Starsailor: Love is Here
Thoughts? Their video for 'Good Souls' is getting heavy MTV2 rotation.
MacKenzie Wilson - All Music Guide
Starsailor was already a critic's darling in the band's native England during mid-2001, and the group's painfully melodic debut, Love Is Here, poised the band to rise in the shadows of Doves, Coldplay, and Travis. Starsailor, however, isn't as polished as its counterparts, but that's not to say Love Is Here isn't a beautiful piece of work. It's less lilting than Coldplay's Parachutes, and frontman James Walsh's aching vocals shape his angularity as a singer/songwriter. Starsailor is a young band, and Love Is Here illustrates the group's sharp intellect inside basic acoustics. Singles such as the passionately violent "Alcoholic" and melancholic dark hues of "Fever" touch upon Starsailor's own pop stylings. The band isn't typically jaunty, for the members of Starsailor are a bit cynical. Lyrics reflect battles with self-discovery, independence, and being lovelorn; however, they're matches of a survivor. "Talk Her Down," one of the album's most gnarling tracks, bounces with light psychedelic patterns, and "Good Souls" is probably Starsailor's closest rock & roll moment. The live soundscape found on Love Is Here sets up the simplistic beauty of this new band. They didn't go for a grand bombast of crashing guitars and angst-ridden stories similar to Oasis and Manic Street Preachers. They go for something more positive as well — each song soars with intricate musicianship and melodic lushness. Wigan native Richard Ashcroft would be pleased.
Starsailor was already a critic's darling in the band's native England during mid-2001, and the group's painfully melodic debut, Love Is Here, poised the band to rise in the shadows of Doves, Coldplay, and Travis. Starsailor, however, isn't as polished as its counterparts, but that's not to say Love Is Here isn't a beautiful piece of work. It's less lilting than Coldplay's Parachutes, and frontman James Walsh's aching vocals shape his angularity as a singer/songwriter. Starsailor is a young band, and Love Is Here illustrates the group's sharp intellect inside basic acoustics. Singles such as the passionately violent "Alcoholic" and melancholic dark hues of "Fever" touch upon Starsailor's own pop stylings. The band isn't typically jaunty, for the members of Starsailor are a bit cynical. Lyrics reflect battles with self-discovery, independence, and being lovelorn; however, they're matches of a survivor. "Talk Her Down," one of the album's most gnarling tracks, bounces with light psychedelic patterns, and "Good Souls" is probably Starsailor's closest rock & roll moment. The live soundscape found on Love Is Here sets up the simplistic beauty of this new band. They didn't go for a grand bombast of crashing guitars and angst-ridden stories similar to Oasis and Manic Street Preachers. They go for something more positive as well — each song soars with intricate musicianship and melodic lushness. Wigan native Richard Ashcroft would be pleased.
Kevin Maidment - Amazon.com
Although Love Is Here, Starsailor's anxious, soulful, folk-and-urban-blues-nuanced debut won't be a culture shock to any British pop-scene follower who experienced, say, Tom McRae's 2000 debut, it certainly jolts the core beliefs and common cultural values of the U.K. indie scene. Nothing about Starsailor is remotely "alternative"; cool dads will appreciate them every bit as much as the hip kids. Not only is tender-aged singer James Walsh proud to admit to being influenced by Van Morrison and Tim Buckley (blimey, it's like punk never happened), he is also gifted with a larynx as gnarled, emotionally articulate, and demonstratively tremulous as the underrated Roger Chapman. Love Is Here is an assured classic, whose exposition of impending mid-life crises and buttoned-up desperation (typical lyric: "I need to be alone while I suffer") is conveyed through shuffling jazz percussion, metronomic acoustic guitars, and keyboards that veer between decorative cocktail piano and ice rink organ (courtesy of former crematorium organist Barry Westhead). Are Starsailor the future of British pop? Let's bloody hope so.
Although Love Is Here, Starsailor's anxious, soulful, folk-and-urban-blues-nuanced debut won't be a culture shock to any British pop-scene follower who experienced, say, Tom McRae's 2000 debut, it certainly jolts the core beliefs and common cultural values of the U.K. indie scene. Nothing about Starsailor is remotely "alternative"; cool dads will appreciate them every bit as much as the hip kids. Not only is tender-aged singer James Walsh proud to admit to being influenced by Van Morrison and Tim Buckley (blimey, it's like punk never happened), he is also gifted with a larynx as gnarled, emotionally articulate, and demonstratively tremulous as the underrated Roger Chapman. Love Is Here is an assured classic, whose exposition of impending mid-life crises and buttoned-up desperation (typical lyric: "I need to be alone while I suffer") is conveyed through shuffling jazz percussion, metronomic acoustic guitars, and keyboards that veer between decorative cocktail piano and ice rink organ (courtesy of former crematorium organist Barry Westhead). Are Starsailor the future of British pop? Let's bloody hope so.
01-28-02 | 08:09 PM
#3
DVD Talk Limited Edition
They are being pushed heavily--at a major retailer their LP/CD was only $6.99!! 
I listened at the booth and thought it too monotonous (on a first listen, anyway) but liked the basic sound.
If I like more of what I hear I might eventually cop a copy.
I listened at the booth and thought it too monotonous (on a first listen, anyway) but liked the basic sound.
If I like more of what I hear I might eventually cop a copy.
01-29-02 | 03:24 AM
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After listening to them for a bit, I just couldn't get into them. 'Fever' is such an incredible song, however. For the past few months it has been on every mix cd I've made for my friends. Maybe I should try again and see if the whole cd catches my eye.
01-29-02 | 08:13 AM
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From: The Sky Above PA
Man, so far, I must be the only one, but I think this a great album lyrically and musically....Have been listening to this continuously since I bought it a week ago...British press has refered to them as 'Warmplay'---(get it? 
) but I think they stand apart from Coldplay, who I also equally like.
) but I think they stand apart from Coldplay, who I also equally like.
01-29-02 | 04:06 PM
#7
DVD Talk Legend
Now giles don't get too overexcited. I saw both last week, and the charlies put on a better show.
I get the sense that Starsailor would rather be rockers than be the mellow songsters they are being marketed as, but that's what sells, so that's who they are.
The concert was good, they played well live. But weren't a patch on the Charlatans. I saw them at the Warfield 2 weeks ago tonight.
Then followed last week with Stereophonics and JJ72.
The album is good, I do enjoy it, the wife loves it, but it is a lot like coldplay's album.
So if you like coldplay travis, etc you will love starsailor
I get the sense that Starsailor would rather be rockers than be the mellow songsters they are being marketed as, but that's what sells, so that's who they are.
The concert was good, they played well live. But weren't a patch on the Charlatans. I saw them at the Warfield 2 weeks ago tonight.
Then followed last week with Stereophonics and JJ72.
The album is good, I do enjoy it, the wife loves it, but it is a lot like coldplay's album.
So if you like coldplay travis, etc you will love starsailor
01-29-02 | 05:25 PM
#8
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Granted the Charlies do have seven albums under their belt, you would hope they would put on a great show, the last time I saw them I was disappointed - their latest album "Wonderland" is one of their best, so my fingers are crossed. Also have tix to see Stereophonics/JJ72 this weekend and cant wait to see the latter again, after a fantastic live set I had seen them at the Reading Music Festival a couple of years back.
02-09-02 | 02:05 PM
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From: City of the lakers.. riots.. and drug dealing cops.. los(t) Angel(e)s. ca.
Originally posted by hotaru_san
I just started listening to them a few days ago and I'm already hooked. I think their music is great.
I just started listening to them a few days ago and I'm already hooked. I think their music is great.
cool. yeah, i like them. pretty good sound.
02-11-02 | 12:03 PM
#13
DVD Talk Legend
Originally posted by Giles
Looks like they coming back to the states for another tour, they are the headliners now.
Looks like they coming back to the states for another tour, they are the headliners now.
02-11-02 | 12:07 PM
#14
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Found them
No West coast listed yet?
Date Location Venue
2.28.02 Toronto, ON Phoenix Concert Theatre
3.01.02 Ottawa, ON Barrymore Music Hall
3.02.02 Philadelphia, PA Theatre of Living Arts
3.05.02 New York, NY Irving Plaza
3.06.02 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
3.07.02 Plainview, NY Vanderbilt
3.09.02 Charlotte, NC Tremont Music Hall
3.10.02 Birmingham, AL Five Points Music Hall
3.11.02 Atlanta, GA Cotton Club
3.13.02 Houston, TX The Engine Room
3.15.02 Austin, TX Element
3.16.02 Dallas, TX Deep Ellum Live
No West coast listed yet?
Date Location Venue
2.28.02 Toronto, ON Phoenix Concert Theatre
3.01.02 Ottawa, ON Barrymore Music Hall
3.02.02 Philadelphia, PA Theatre of Living Arts
3.05.02 New York, NY Irving Plaza
3.06.02 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
3.07.02 Plainview, NY Vanderbilt
3.09.02 Charlotte, NC Tremont Music Hall
3.10.02 Birmingham, AL Five Points Music Hall
3.11.02 Atlanta, GA Cotton Club
3.13.02 Houston, TX The Engine Room
3.15.02 Austin, TX Element
3.16.02 Dallas, TX Deep Ellum Live
