2008, Arts and Crafts
Verdict: B
After two huge steps back on Without Feathers, The Stills’ Oceans Will Rise makes admirable progress towards recapturing the band’s early promise. Though not quite worthy of the “return to form” tag (Logic Will Break Your Heart was just too darn good), there are at least three or four songs here that prove those heights haven’t fallen out of reach.
Anthemic lead single “Being Here” has hooks aplenty and gives the band its best chance at chart success, but "Eastern Europe" might be the crown jewel here. With a swagger that conjures an edgier Franz Ferdinand, the track brings back the minimalist but catchy guitar work of the band’s first LP.
Other highlights include the brooding “Snake Charming the Masses,” and “Snow in California,” an atmospheric mid-tempo rocker that treads closer still to dramatic, melancholy feel of Logic.
The rest of Oceans Will Rise is a bit more scattershot – these guys are still clearly not sure what kind of band they want to be – but for once, momentum appears to be on their side.
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