Category:
Rock / Pop

Try if you like:
Manic Street Preachers, Teenage Fanclub

High Dive landed on my desk with little fanfare and was almost forgotten but out of a whim I threw it in to check it out and I was graced with a great little pop gem. Little Beirut is a Portland, OR band that loves their pop music. Power Pop might be a bit of a better description for this band because they get rocking pretty good. The band name comes from a nickname that George Bush Sr. placed upon the city after quite a Liberal protest ensued during a visit.

This band could even be compared to the brilliance of Teenage Fanclub. They don't quite have the harmonies that TF have but pretty close. The hooks are there though. The album opens with the awesome "She's A Martyr". You have no idea where they are going with this song in the beginning. It's got a bit of an acoustical start only to rock out only 15 seconds in with a huge guitar sound. Then the ever so gentle vocals of Hamilton Sims ushers you into a wonderful pop/rock album with some amazing hooks. On "Sniper's Lament" Little Beirut play around with a bit of guitar effects but then drops out to allow a piano and vocals to take the forefront. Beautifully done. One of my favorites is "Acid Wash Soul" it's almost got an old Manic Street Preachers feel to it. "The Lottery" is a lively affair as well, one that gets you rocking pretty good. "Love During Wartime" is a track that seems to need work. It was the only point in the album that I wasn't impressed. The mellower "Monsters Are Coming" show that Little Beirut is quite dynamic as can handle different styles quite easily. "Bella Du Jour" is a wonderful track as well, all set for radio play. The band borders the radio rock line, opening up a huge opportunity for themselves.

Little Beirut shows that they have the skills on High Dive. This is one of the best debuts I've heard in a long, long time. I wouldn't be surprised if we saw this band going places quite quickly. They just need to trim the fat and get rid of some of the filler.