It's a lot of sound for two guys (singer-guitarist Brandon Summers and drummer Benjamin Weikel), suggesting that every minute since 2004's "Love And Distance" was utilized to perfect the pair's already steady hand at soaring, addictive melodies, pleasant layers of guitar and keyboards, and clean, visceral drumming.
This confident piece of work is like mannah from the heavens for college rock fans, freshening up loose, rhythmic song structures with a charming lo-fi aesthetic.
It seems like in the process of tightening up their sound, the group also left out some of the more over-the-top qualities that inhabited their past releases. Keep Your Eyes Ahead sounds a lot more warm, but at the same time is more safe as well.
To all those that haven't checked this CD out, please do. It's absolutely amazing. In the process of checking out Love and Distance To all those that haven't checked this CD out, please do. It's absolutely amazing. In the process of checking out Love and Distance right now, which I hear is just as good.…Expand
I love these guys. Their last album was one of my favorites from the past 10 years, but Keep Your Eyes Ahead is even better. It has a lot of I love these guys. Their last album was one of my favorites from the past 10 years, but Keep Your Eyes Ahead is even better. It has a lot of really catchy, beautiful, emotional tunes, as usual. But this one has a seamless overall feel. Every song perfectly leads into the next, even though the duo tweaks their sound/style quite a bit. I prefer the multi-layered, upbeat tracks that features trippy guitar distortion. But the quieter songs are excellent too and the lyrics are creative and memorable. The true test of how great this album is, for me, came last night when I had some friends over. I put the CD on and they all kept asking about the band. After we listened to it from start to finish they asked me to play it again.…Expand
This is a fantastic CD. Although it isn't as catchy as Love and Distance, it is still a great CD. Songs like Lately, Can't Say No, This is a fantastic CD. Although it isn't as catchy as Love and Distance, it is still a great CD. Songs like Lately, Can't Say No, and Keep Your Eyes Ahead will entertain, while songs like Broken Afternoon and Shed Your Love will sooth. There's not a bad song on the album.…Expand
I never even heard of this band until a couple weeks ago. It took a few listens before it really hit me, but as I was giving song ratings in I never even heard of this band until a couple weeks ago. It took a few listens before it really hit me, but as I was giving song ratings in itunes, I kept giving every song 4 or 5 stars and I thought "Hey, this whole album is excellent." It gets better and better with repeated listenings, and it's caused me to go back and check out their earlier albums. It's really just beautiful, great music.…Expand
The album is very solid, a marked improvement over Love and Distance with regards to song quality and sequencing (though that album does The album is very solid, a marked improvement over Love and Distance with regards to song quality and sequencing (though that album does contain a few amazing tracks) and holds together well as an 'album', but I'm still waiting for the proper followup to Young Effectuals. This album is one that is instantly likable but, as with most instantly likable lps, when it's over it's over. There isn't much staying power and not much worth coming back to after it's been in your player for two weeks. I prefer the riskier sound and songs of Young Effectuals which, while not as solid as far as a collection of songs, offers far more to discover and digest as it reveals its charm much more gradually. It's a sound and style they get farther from as they try to "hone" their songwriting and "focus" their sound, but it seems to me that a major label (yes, sub pop is now a major label relatively speaking!) and pressure to sell records has stripped the band of it's willingness to take chances. I really hope album 5 can veer a bit back toward the sound they were working with on Young Effectuals and we finally get a proper Helio Sequence album.…Expand
