Get Your Music on Amazon!
Get Your Music on Amazon!

JFH Music Review




Eisley
Room Noises



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 12 tracks: 41 minutes, 7 seconds
Street Date: February 8, 2005


I first encountered Eisley as an opening act during Coldplay's A Rush of Blood to the Head tour. Playing a short, yet interesting set, the quintet caught my ear with their brand of intricate, girl-fronted guitar-pop. Consisting of three DuPree sisters, one brother, and a mutual friend, Eisley had a sound that meshed well with Coldplay's core audience and I could tell that this was a band to keep my eye on in the near future. Sure enough, two years after opening for Coldplay, Eisley released their full-length debut Room Noises in February 2005.

Early on, there were two things that struck me about Eisley. First, is the band's vocal similarity to Sixpence None the Richer. Their two vocalists, Sherri and Stacy Dupree, sound uncannily like Leigh Nash of Sixpence, their wavering harmonies providing the perfect fit for the band's lovely folk-pop songs. Second, is that despite their young age (half the band members are still in their teens), Eisley is a fairly seasoned band, having put out two solid EPs (their Laughing City debut and Marvelous Things) prior to Room Noises.

Unsurprisingly, Room Noises opens with a dash of familiarity, with four of its first five songs taken from those two EPs ("Telescope Eyes" and "I Wasn't Prepared" appeared on Laughing City while "Memories" and "Marvelous Things" are taken from their second EP). While opening an album with a slew of older material might be seen as "recycling hits" by some, this unusual move can be easily justified since Eisley's older songs are simply too good to be left pining away on EPs. Rerecorded (and at times re-written) for Room Noises, these early highlights are a nice offering by Eisley, introducing newer fans to material they might otherwise have missed.

Room Noises starts off with "Memories," a complex and haunting ballad (about the loss of a husband) that opens the album on a surprisingly dark tone. Featuring a slow-building climax and interplaying vocals by Sherri and Stacy, "Memories" showcases Eisley's melodic, yet ambitious, approach to songwriting early on. It's an unorthodox opener that gives way to the infectious, sunny pop of "Telescope Eyes" - a catchy Tegan and Sara-type song that provides the ideal foil for Eisley's dark opener. The pattern continues with "I Wasn't Prepared," a slow piano-driven ballad that is promptly followed by the bouncy, country-tinged "Golly Sandra." By the time the first half of Room Noises wraps up, it's clear that Eisley is just as comfortable writing moody ballads as they are in writing 3-minute pop gems.

Despite the merits of these older compositions, the other songs on the album are by no means less ambitious or accomplished. In fact, it's during the second half of the album that Room Noises really takes off. The band puts together a string of irresistibly perfect songs from start to finish and it's hard for the listener not to get tugged along by the gorgeous melodies. Whether it's the layered verses of "Brightly Wound," the fantastic images of "Lost at Sea" or the shimmering vocals of "My Lovely," there's an innate beauty to these songs that is undeniable. The band continues to show a wonderful ear for melody with the tender acoustic ballad "Just Like We Do," the marvelously flowing "Plenty of Paper" and the bittersweet "One Day I Slowly Floated Away." They top it all off with the simple, yet charming "Trolley Wood."

Overall, there is an air of childlike innocence that surrounds Room Noises. The lyrics are full of playful imagery and fanciful narratives, evoking images of humming meadows, make-believe, and never growing up. Room Noises is a fairy-tale set to music, and to be honest, these songs are much too pretty to be about anything else. Even in its darker moments, this album has a sweet sense of optimism that is never lost. Room Noises is a beautiful record from this young band, managing to effortlessly meld old with the new. It is both a refreshing look at the past and a bold step forward for Eisley, making it one of the best early releases of the year.

- Review date: 5/4/05, written by Sherwin Frias



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Buttons, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase!

 

CD

Buy This CD Online


. Artist Info: Discography
. Record Label: Reprise Records
. Album length: 12 tracks, 41 minutes and 7 seconds
. Street Date: February 8, 2005
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Memories
  2. Telescope Eyes
  3. I Wasn't Prepared
  4. Golly Sandra
  5. Marvelous Things
  6. Brightly Wound
  7. Lost at Sea
  8. My Lovely
  9. Just Like We Do
  10. Plenty of Paper
  11. One Day I Slowly Floated Away
  12. Trolley Wood
spacer Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 


(JFH Sponsor Spot)

 

 

                 
Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Buttons, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase!

Search JFH




This Wednesday, March 13, 2024
ALBUMS
Chris Renzema Manna [Centricity]

This Friday, March 15, 2024
ALBUMS
Apollo LTD Dreaming - EP [Centricity]
The Inspirations The Legacy Continues [Horizon]
Barbara Mandrell Precious Memories: 20 Hymns & Gospel Classics [Gaither]
Katy Nichole Jesus Changed My Life (Deluxe) [Centricity]
Katy Nichole Jesus Changed My Life (Deluxe Bonus Video Version) [Centricity]
Seph Schlueter Counting My Blessings - EP [Provident]
Seventh Day Slumber Fractured Paradise [RockFest]
Spoken Reflection [XOVR]
Still Worship Still Worship Lofi, Vol. 2 [Integrity]
Tedashii Dead or Alive, Pt. 2 - EP [Reach]
Chris Tomlin Live from Good Friday [Capitol CMG]

SINGLES
Above the Clouds For God's Sake [Remix] - Single [Polished Arrow]
Big Daddy Weave Let It Begin - Single [Curb]
Convictions Sleeping Lotus - Single (independent)
Christine D'Clario Lift Your Head Up - Single [Capitol CMG]
EmanuelDaProphet VICIOUS CYCLE - Single [Capitol CMG]
Future of Forestry Forever - Single (independent)
Iveth Luna Right On Time - Single [Red Street]
New Life Worship Where the Story Ends - Single [Integrity]
Newsboys Heaven On Earth - Single [Capitol CMG]
REVERE RED (O The Blood) - Single [Integrity]
The Rocky Valentines Stick it Out - Single [Velvet Blue]
Sound Street Mountains Will Fall - Single [Sonlite]
Vineyard Worship Real Thing - Single [Vineyard UK]
Phil Wickham The Jesus Way (Hometown Version) - Single [Fair Trade]

Next Friday, March 22, 2024
ALBUMS
Meredith Andrews Heaven's Frequency (Live) [Curb]
Jaime Jamgochian Sacred Surrender [Wings]
Whitecross Fear No Evil (independent)

SINGLES
Big Daddy Weave Let It Begin - Single [Curb]
Hannah Kerr If I Were You - Single [Curb]
Mac Powell Like It's Nothing - Single [Capitol CMG]
We The Kingdom Church Music - Single [Capitol CMG]


For all release dates, click here!
 



Listen to the new album from Trey Tate!




Listen to the new Album From Tim Juillet!

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images