South is one of those bands that refuses to give up. They have a vision of how they want their music to sound; unaffected and rich in musical soul. If you were fortunate enough to know it existed, From Here On In, their second full-length, was capable of blowing one’s mind listen after listen. Subsequent releases were good, but not until You Are Here has that aural excitement been so palpable. The first track “Wasted” could not have been a better introduction to a record full of chilling melodies and audacious harmonies; it’s actually reminiscent of the sultry and hypnotic sounds of bands like The Stone Roses and Ride. Joel Cadbury’s voice resonates with a comforting melancholy that gives their music a feeling of instantaneous familiarity and warmth. The album echoes with pop-filled pockets of goodness that transport South’s signature sound to new heights. Though songs like “She’s Half Crazy” and “Better Things” feel a bit unpolished, they do so in a deliberately delicious way. The end result is an album stripped of all superfluous noise to stand firmly on its own musical merit.
-- Brigitte B. Zabak
