If you miss the band James and its distinctive vocalist Tim Booth, Absentstar’s new (sea trials) will either bring back fond James-ian memories or make you curse the day that group called it quits. But whether this music causes smiles or frowns, there’s no denying the near-operatic power in vocalist Derek Ingersoll’s singing. In addition to its James comparisons, songs like “For God Sakes” also reference U2’s Big Music period in the ‘80s, which makes it a little hard to place Absentstar within the modern musical spectrum. The group is a little bit Coldplay, yet it rocks harder. It’s also a tad Radiohead sad much of the time, although not quite so desperately depressed. And while Absentstar is as emotional as a soap opera star’s tear ducts on steroids, its lyrics are sometimes swallowed up in spacious musical arrangements. This is why you may miss lyrical gems like “For god sakes hold it down/The noises overtake the silence I create” from “For God Sakes.” Whenever words are obscured by overly assertive sound, (sea trials) begins to feel like a big, bold, yet generic love story. And when you cannot pickup on the dialogue, it’s hard to give a damn what happens to these pretty mannequins.
-- Dan MacIntosh [April 28, 2008]
