Glös "Harmonium" (Lovitt)
By
Tuesday. Mar 27, 9:40 AM
Exactly what I wanted... but is that a good thing?

Engine Down and Denali. Cornbread Compton, Keeley Davis, and Maura Davis. All have reputations that precede them. Glös is their newest creative outlet, a project that started with the exchange of digital files on tour via laptops, and that has since grown into a full collection of songs with the help of internet communication.

So does Glös live up to its member’s distinctions? Unfortunately, this is a hard question to answer. There are several aspects of this album that stand out to me as bold and endearing. Flawless rhythms, hauntingly beautiful melodies, and unending drive grace every track on Harmonium. But I feel like these descriptions are what this group is already known for: I could characterize Engine Down the same way. What I’m driving at is this: with what they specialize in, Glös delivers. But if you yearn for more, Harmonium falls a bit short.

Sure, there are slight variations in instrumentation and stylization, but these bells and whistles are not my main concern. The songs themselves seem to be written in the same exact vein as Denali and later Engine Down. I want to hear these great rhythms and melodies in a song that feels less world-shaking, less austere. I want to hear Maura’s beautiful voice singing a summery, light-hearted tune. And sometimes I don’t want to feel that unending drive on every track.

I feel like I’ve gone a bit too far. Truthfully, I love these guys and everything they’ve released, including Harmonium. Essentially, Glös is exactly what I wanted (especially after the disappointing Sparta release). But since it’s also exactly what I expected, I can’t help but to be a bit let down. Like a Christmas morning that’s ruined because you know what you’re getting.
www.lovitt.com

Click here to buy this album on iTunes!

Click here to download the iTunes jukebox application for Macintosh or Windows!

Chris Scheffey

Got something constructive to say? By all means, rant away. Gonna blab about something unrelated and/or talk shit? Don't expect your comment to stick around.