|

New & Current Releases
Archives: A-Z Index
Advanced Search
Upcoming Release Calendar
All-Time High (And Low) Scores
Best Of 2008
Best Of 2007
Best Of 2006
Best Of 2005
Best Of 2004
Best Of 2003
Best Of 2002
Best Of 2001
Best Of 2000
How Metascores Are Calculated
Discuss Music In Our Forums

Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
|
Love Is Here
by Starsailor
This is the much-heralded debut album from the English foursome, produced by Steve Osbourne.
| LABEL: |
Capitol / Chrysalis |
| RELEASE DATE: |
08 January 2002 |
| DISCS: |
1 disc |
| GENRE(S): |
Alternative, Rock, Britpop |
NOTES: UK release 8 October 2001.

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
91
E! Online
Frontman James Walsh channels Jeff Buckley's soaring vocals so perfectly over those lovely acoustic guitars and pianos that you won't be surprised when you hear the band's named after a Tim Buckley album.

91
Entertainment Weekly
As much as you want to tell [James] Walsh to calm down, this stirring debut wouldn't be half as potent without him. [18 Jan 2002, p.80]
90
PopMatters
Sure, Starsailor may be part of bloated hype-fest, but it's important to remember that sometimes things get hyped because they deserve it.

80
New Musical Express
Starsailor have produced a debut album of real emotional depth.

80
Alternative Press
Starsailor back up their hype with a debut album worthy of more than a few cursory spins. [Feb 2002, p.80]
80
All Music Guide
Each song soars with intricate musicianship and melodic lushness.

80
Q Magazine
Their debut bears the hallmarks of carefully assembled, widescreen pop-rock.

80
Billboard
Starsailor is one of those wonderfully rare bands that manages to be gentle and sensitive while also rocking admirably.

70
CDNow
Similar to the Radiohead-lite maneuvers of fellow Brits Coldplay, the bright spots (of which there are a fair share) are dulled by the facsimile presentation.

70
Playlouder
'Love Is Here' actually manages to deliver on all that early promise and, more than any of the singles that preceded it, completely conjures up the giant-hearted beauty they're capable of live.

63
Spin Cycle
The band, while heavy on charm, is light in its ability to demonstrate any diversity in its songs.

60
Dot Music
'Love Is Here' - expansively, expensively produced, lavish yet aspiring to understatement (if such a contradiction can be accepted) and containing some affecting songs - is a pretty good record.

60
Rolling Stone
Starsailor are the U.K. equivalent of the Goo Goo Dolls.... You may well like Love Is Here, but it could take a while before you admit it to yourself.

60
Mojo
Love Is Here is juvenalia -- persuasive, and suggesting greatness should the band have the courage (or the license) to cut loose. [Nov 2001]
60
The Onion (A.V. Club)
Love Is Here radiates as-yet-unfulfilled potential, like the work of a band going through the motions to get its foot in the door.

60
Blender
If there's a fault here, it's in the slightly hand-wringing lyrics, which, of not overwrought, are certainly pretty darned wrought. [#4, p.123]
57
Pitchfork
Love Is Here isn't bad, and its prospect for radio play is far more appealing than, say, Train. The four just don't have the depth of their admitted influences.

50
Austin Chronicle
The worst mistake you can make is to write off this band as just another sappy, sentimental Brit-pop effort, because you'd miss out on supreme moments of emotional clarity that far outweigh the muddier, more overwrought mistakes.

50
Neumu.net
Although much of the record re-verses and re-crafts melodies in the same vein, there are a few gems that can't be missed.


The average user rating for this album is 8.0 (out of 10) based on 15 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Read more user comments...
Discuss this album in our forums |
|