A lot of this is plain but good English-style (or is it?) pop, accomplished and pretty and occasionally even captivating. Think U2 or …. The requisite power ballads are actually quite tasteful and tasty. Interesting note from the press kit: Finn Andrews, the leader, moved from London to “pleasant but dull” Auckland, New Zealand in his mid-teens. The music reflects this, owing a lot to the strong balladry of The Chills and indeed, the overall mood is one of pleasure but somehow lacking a clear goal. Later, Andrews says of the return to London, “we’re getting faster … and the Marshalls are coming out again.”

1. Mid-tempo, catchy, and sharply executed; a great lead-off song
2. Oh, so Brit-pop with little guitar filigrees, plaintive vocals, and big hooks
3. Power ballad but more restrained than the typical example; nice buildup and singalong quality
4. Someday, this song will be their arena-rock show closer
5. Yeah, mid-up-tempo pop
6. Mid-tempo pop balladry
7. Another of their power ballads, nicely executed, pretty, but memorable only in that it blatantly bites a Suede song (n.b. Bernard Butler of Suede produced some trax but not this one)
8. Slow piano and vocals
9. A bit over-the-top on the arrangement
10. Strings in the arrangement of this ballad leave you floating in syrup