Maritime may not be a band that rings any immediate bells with anybody. However, a closer inspection of the band line-up reveals that behind this new outfit are some very recognisable faces. The demise of the Promise Ring ahs already spawned one new band, and this is the second. Now, even when Davey von Bohen was busy with the Promise Ring, he found time to record two albums with drummer Dan Didier under the name Vermont. This side-project has subsequently morphed into Maritime with the addition of former Dismemberment Plan bassist Eric Axelson. ‘Glass House’ is the trio’s debut release.
Now the first thing to make clear is that this is not the Promise Ring ands this is not the Dismemberment Plan. Maritime are a band that play their own brand of pop-rock. It may share some similarities with the mellow ‘Wood/Water’ but the emphasis on the song writing here is placed firmly on pop. The flow of the album switches between slower acoustic numbers and more up-tempo pop efforts. The band shift effortlessly between their differing styles but do end up giving the album a slightly disjointed feel.
‘Glass House’ does start in superb fashion. The first three songs were of such a high standard that I though I might have to get out my rarely used five star rating. Album opener ‘The Window is the Door’ is stunning. It is a simple track; full of melancholy and it works brilliantly. ‘Sleep Around’ shows that the band can write a great pop song, as you the listener are plunged from the depths of despair to the heights of euphoria. ‘Some One Has To Die’ follows in the same vein as its predecessor; a great slice of pop music. The next few tracks prove to be decent as well but at the halfway mark the album starts to slip.
I think the simple fact is that the second half of the album just doesn’t compare with the first. Where as the first three songs, and even the next few, were simple but brilliantly executed pop songs, the second half starts to experiment, and not to great effect. The effects on ‘Adios’, for example, really detract from the song writing core. On other occasions, such as ‘Lights’, the problem is that the songs just aren’t in the same league.
‘Glass Floor’ proves to be a very difficult album to get to grips with. Moments of genius are interspersed with far more lacklustre efforts. This is not an album that you are going to want to listen to all the way through many times. Maritime have achieved some great work with some of their songs, which unfortunately isn’t carried through the whole album. This is certainly worth checking out – just don’t expect the brilliance of the first three songs all the way through.
www.maritimesongs.com
Mark
