Album Reviews
stellastarr*
Harmonies For The Haunted
RCA, 2005
7 Anuses out of 10
Review By: Eliminator
stellastarr* is an indie-rock outfit from New York. No, there’s no footnote, the asterisk is part of the band name. I’m not sure of the significance of the asterisk, but I’m sure for the New York-bred art students that make up the band there is something to it.
If you are new to stellastarr* and are wondering what they sound like I would say it is safe to say they sound somewhat like The Cure on one hand and Interpol on the other. The truth is I hate the “If you like X, then you’ll like Y” classifications because usually Y sounds nothing like X and you wind up disappointed. The truth is, you are either going to like it or you aren’t. Luckily for you, this marks the first review to come equipped with 30-second samples of select songs!
Harmonies starts off on a very “Cure” note with “Lost In Time,” which is reminiscent of Disintegration. Singer Shawn Christensen’s voice sounds more like Interpol’s Paul Banks than good ol’ Robert Smith, but the overall tone of the song is very Disintegration.
The album then kicks up a notch with “Damn This Foolish Heart” and then back down with “The Diver.” Most of the album switches back and forth between upbeat Interpol-type rock, and down-trodden Cure-esque tunes. Shawn’s lyrics are typically complimented by backing vocals provided by bassist Amanda Tannen (very reminiscent of the Pixies).
I can hear you now, “So get to the point…. Is this album worth my time or a waste of time?”
Well, small group of readers, I’ve got to give this album a review of, “eh….”
Harmonies is just okay. It’s an enjoyable listen; it made for good background music. But there is nothing that essentially grabbed my attention and made me want to dance or sing along. Getting back to the dreaded “If you like X” comparisons, there are no grabbing lyrics à la Disintegration, and none of their songs are quite as catchy as Interpol's. The album is alright, but there are plenty of other albums that will no doubt do a better job of catching your attention. In an era where buying a CD means you are making a real commitment (by bypassing all the urges to just download it and purchasing the album to support the artist) the stellastarr* CD probably won’t be a “must buy” for too many people. Unfortunately the first single, “Sweet Troubled Soul,” while catchy, probably won’t grab enough radio play to help make this album a hit.
Using another dreaded platitude, they have potential. They are, no doubt, talented musicians, but they haven’t written their ‘A’ material yet. This is good, but it is not worth more than a ‘C’. There is a good chance their next album will be their Disintegration if they stay focused and work hard.
Alright, I’m making myself sick with these cliché statements. Thanks for reading.
Track Listing/Clips:
1. Lost In Time (clip)
2. Damn This Foolish Heart
3. The Diver
4. Sweet Troubled Soul (clip)
5. Born In A Fleamarket
6. On My Own
7. When I Disappear
8. Love and Lounging
9. Stay Entertained
10. Island Lost At Sea
©2010 The Elimination Dept.
