The Stills
Oceans Will Rise (Arts & Crafts)
By Emily Becker
Published: October 3rd, 2008 | 9:00am
The Stills third release, Oceans Will Rise, is a sort of homecoming for the Montreal-based quartet as they join other Canadian musical luminaries like Feist and Broken Social Scene on Arts & Crafts. Oceans Will Rise also offers a nostalgic exploration of Canadian alt-rock: It’s fitting then, that Paul McCartney invited them to play at Quebec City’s 400th birthday party in July ‘08.
The better tracks on Oceans Will Rise use rhythm to overcome predictability: as with the staccato handclaps on “Snakecharming the Masses,” the rhythmic guitar line on “Rooibos/ Palm Wine Drinkard,” or the bass line that ties “Don’t Talk Down” together. After the band’s debut, Logic Will Break Your Heart, Dave Hamelin took over the guitar and joined Tim Fletcher on vocals. Maybe Hamelin’s past as a drummer explains why the Stills write with an ear for the backbeat, but his voice is a liability. Both Fletcher (“Snow In California”) and Hamelin (“I’m With You”) sound affected and too nasal, though their voices do mesh seamlessly when they harmonize.
While at best Oceans Will Rise explores Brit-pop influences like late-era XTC, at worst the Stills recall Our Lady Peace — an early ‘90s Canadian act who tiptoed up to the line of mainstream success without ever actually crossing it. The Stills give off the same also-ran vibe on “Everything I Build” and the first single, “Being Here.”
After the middling Without Feathers, the third time still fails to charm. On Oceans Will Rise the Stills are unable to re-create the dark groove of a song like “Gender Bombs” or the up-tick of “Allison Krausse” — which attracted listeners to their debut in the first place.
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The Stills’ official site
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Issue #35
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