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Third time’s a charm for alt-rock nostalgists
The Heavenly States - DelayerPosted by Laila Hanson on 07-Jul-08 @ 03:51 PM
[4/5]Combining the scruffy shocks of guitar and dyspeptic swagger of pre-grunge rockers like Agitpop and Pavement with a layered, late-'90s indie-pop aesthetic best associated with Dave Fridmann, Bay Area quartet the Heavenly States find anappealing balance on their third release. The album opens strong with "Morning Exercise," a noisy pop number that could be Archers Of Loaf's first cousin, followed by the snappy, rockabilly-tinged punk rave-up "The System." The middle third slows the pace noticeably, keyed by the dreamy "Make Up" and "Sun Chase Moon," reminiscent of Ida with its ringing angularity. Fortunately, the album doesn't lose energy as the radiant shimmer and unsteady gait conjures another shade of ramshackle charm. Things pick up again with "Pretty Life," casting a slinky shadow of Possum Dixon's new-wave power pop, and the fiddle-fueled stomper "Never Be Alright," where the States' mix of beauty and attack are keenly calibrated. (THE REBEL GROUP) Chris Parker  Official Website: http://www.therebelgroup.com
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