Eisley

Already tour veterans from time on the road with Coldplay, Snow Patrol and Taking Back Sunday, Texan siblings (plus one best friend) Eisley seem set for success. After all, they have youth and looks on their side, as well as a distinctive blend of enchanted pop-rock dominated by haunting vocals and rich with melodic refrains. But while Combinations attempts to spin their sound into new forms, the band's songwriting skills have yet to mature—failing to do justice to the mournful intensity of the DuPree sisters' vocals or the potential of the album's stand-out songs.

Opening track "Many Funerals" is an evocative introduction to Eisley's sound, with rich vocal harmonies pulling the mass of guitars to a taut finish. But while lead single "Invasion" delivers similar power—underpinned with a gentle piano refrain—the rest of the album is an underwhelming chaser. Undeniably pleasant, the melodic wash of sound soon becomes tired; betrayed by simple, sometimes trite lyricism and a lack of variation. "Ten Cent Blues" narrates a confused and rambling story about a party encounter, while "Combinations" and "If You're Wondering" offer only thin lullabies. Regardless of any musical weakness, the vocals remain consistently moving and expertly arranged, but they alone are not enough to carry this uneven collection.

—Abby McDonald
08.14.07

Eisley gets more ambitious with each EP and album, as well they should: Combinations is the band's second album, but they recorded it when they were barely in their twenties -- a time when growth and change aren't just natural, they're required. This set of songs reflects Eisley's evolution; they sound more grown-up and maybe a shade less playful than Room Noises and the band's EPs, but they keep the uniqueness that made Eisley worth hearing in the first place. Combinations gets off to a literally rocky start with "Many Funerals," which begins with a moody sea shanty-like melody that swells into charging choruses. It's the heaviest, angstiest Eisley song yet, and though it borders on overwrought, it shows the depth and breadth the band brings to their music this time around. The brooding, guitar-heavy feel continues, albeit in very different ways, on "Invasion"'s dark pop and on "A Sight to Behold," which finds the DuPree sisters questioning their sanity to a backdrop of pizzicato strings and distorted beats. The DuPrees' vocals and melodies remain Eisley's greatest, most unique strengths. The harmonies the sisters craft could've appeared on songs from decades ago (and sound especially sweet on the deceptively beguiling "Go Away"), while "I Could Be There for You"'s traditional-sounding tune is even more striking when set to a very contemporary arrangement. The album's eclectic-yet-cohesive feel spans the polished, poppy "Taking Control" and gorgeous "Ten Cent Blues" to the elegant ballad "If You're Wondering" (which boasts chimes, kalimba, and a rainstorm) and the title track, which with its lavish arrangement and fairy tale sweep, almost sounds like a Top 40-friendly version of Joanna Newsom. Eisley's mix of old and new, and accessible and unexpected, makes their music utterly charming, and Combinations is a blend of bewitching contradictions. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide