Sea Trials: Absentstar [AUDIO CD, 2008]

Absentstar hail from Chicago, and their spin on anthemic British arena rock -- equal parts U2, Verve, and Coldplay -- does have a touch of plainspoken Midwestern spirit on their 2008 debut, Sea Trials. They have the grand, sweeping sound common to this kind of British rock (lots of soaring melodies, echoing guitars, and cavernous drums), but they're not pompous; they're down to earth, which gives them an everyday appeal. They're also fortunate enough to have Dan Wilson, the singer/songwriter behind the very good post-alt-pop combo Semisonic, as their producer on Sea Trials, as he helps sharpen the arrangements to emphasize melody without losing their dramatic flair. The end result may still have a few too many surface traces of their influences, but there's enough melodic craft and sonic might to make this a promising debut.

CONDITION: NEW. BRAND NEW FACTORY SEALED !

TRACK LISTING

1. Half Life 3:24
2. For God Sake 4:08
3. Don't Lock Me Out 4:08
4. Life Support 3:50
5. A Year from Now 3:26
6. Everyone You Know 4:27
7. Give in to Me 3:30
8. If What You Mean Is Harm 3:59
9. Quietly Conceited 3:28
10. If You Like It 4:31
11. For the Moment 3:06
12. All Is Forgotten 5:48