- Artists:
- Hope of the States »
- Label:
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Hope Of The States are looking desperate now. The transition from reputable post-rock upstarts to stylish indie dullards had me taken aback, and left me slightly disappointed, but I suppose I should have seen it coming.
‘Sing It Out’ sent out the warning call: devoid of fervour, the track plodded along indistinguishable to the many other characterless indie-rock acts of 2006. Rather naively, I remained optimistic about the album. Maybe, just maybe, ‘Sing It Out’ was a song to throw us off the scent before they stunned everyone with the promise they hinted at on their debut. Sadly not though - the album Left had, at best, two or three listenable tracks, which isn’t a plausible reason to part with your hard-earned cash.
The album’s title track and second single suffers the same fate as the majority of their somophore effort. Sam Herlihy’s cringe-worthy vocals sound awful, and he’s as guilty as ever for putting on a faux-American accent. A dreary chorus backs it up, sounding like Oasis circa 2005. What bugs me the most, though, is that Hope Of The States used to be good. Gone are the tangible post-rock atmospherics, and in its place is dreary, lifeless rock, riding the wave of mediocrity in attempt to be ‘cool’ or ‘scene’. This attempt isn’t even convincing - it just sounds like a band confused as to what direction to go in.
I sincerely hope that their future singles aren’t as dreary or monotonous as this, and I suggest that they look to The Lost Riots for inspiration when making the inevitable third album.
Hope of the States
More Hope of the States
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Hope of the States - Left
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Hope of the States, Sons and Daughters, The Bravery, Willy Mason at Astoria, London, Tue 15 Feb
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Hope of the States - Black Dollar Bills
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This new direction doesn't really suit them. Quite a lot of the time they sound like 10 other bands. Which you probably couldn't say before.
nag
they just sounded like Silver Mt Zions third album gone pop
Left
shouldn't be a single. They've kinda blown it with this album, it can't have won them any new fans and from the radio session they played a while ago Sam's voice has taken a turn for the worse.
errrrrrrr
i love the album and this song in particular.
left kicks the long-winded arse of the lost riots.
I totally agree with
Jordans comment.
HOTS obviously noticed the intricate harmonies and beautiful violins of Silver Mt Zion and...well...havent done an awful lot with them.
This song is listenable, as it the album.
But it is not a forwards step for a band I had such high...er...hopes, for.
I think that dude who topped himself clearly brought the decent ideas to the table.
They'll be dropped after the next album bombs even more.
they are mediocre
while i loathe and detest the priggish/elite atmosphere of the post-rock scene, HotS' first album was very good. now, they are mediocre.
this song
really isn't that bad.
What Jambo said...
I like it
I quite like this song
but it doesn't match up to anything like Nroken Dollar Bills, Enemies/Friends etc.
Shame.
*Broken Dollar Bills
Obviously
liked Blood Meridian
if just for the video. The album and this song are just deeply disappointing.
*cough*
black dollar bills
*cough*
Black Dollar Bills
obviously...
loved
the lost riots, hate this. it actually made me mad, good band. big shame.
they really aren't
While their singles [and, indeed, album] are far more mainstream than they used to be, the b-sides (particulalrly for this one) are astounding.
Amongst other things, they're the finest IDM band since Warp gave up bothering.
"they're the finest IDM band since Warp gave up bothering"
Is this supposed to be funny?
I don't think I've ever been quite so appalled at a comment on this web site in my life.
no
Of course, when they're not making IDM they're not, but when they are they are.
Or do you just resent the suggestion that Warp have given up bothering?
Stop singing!
Personally I think HOTS are at their best when Sam doesn't sing.
The Black Amnesias from Lost Riots is simply stunning.
The best Left has to offer is Seconds (the intro track) which is class even though it only lasts less than 2 minutes however that's probably more of a reflection of how poor the rest of the album is than anything else.
Keep the Mic's unplugged!
I quite like it to be honest, the album as well
Although it is in no way a step forward from The Lost Riots.
Herlihy however does give me faith I could one day make it as A Singer In A Rock And Roll Band, cos if he can do it, any bugger can.
of course I do, you fcking pillock
Listen to Seconds, Boxes for Particle, 553, etc. - it's quite obviously IDM.
Ahg! Sounds like a Train outtake
This is horrible. WTF?
RstJ
I think you're wrong.
The new album's ace. Lost Riots was great, and this is too - it's just different.
I'm not sure Left is a great single choice, but Sing It Out was brilliant.
And Sam's voice is so much better now than it used to be.
no-one's gonna read this now, but...
judging my the near-unanimous critical slaughtering and their near-zero album sales... i don't think the third album's all that inevitable.
^^^
Psychic
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