| The UK music press is infamous for over-hyping their young acts one minute and forgetting about them the next. Does anyone else remember Gay Dad or These Animal Men besides me? Didn’t think so! Air Traffic has had music institutions like NME and Q singing their praises for the past twelve months. Their singles have been pop smashes in the UK and now they have their eyes, and bank accounts, set on the States. Many other UK bands in their situation have been met with apathy when trying to mount similar campaigns here.
While Air Traffic does have a few strong songs in their arsenal, they still fall somewhat flat here. Their debut album, Fractured Life, encompasses a little bit of what every other big UK guitar bands are doing right now. There are the melodic piano assisted melodies that Keane have become famous for. If you want bombastic guitars in the vein of Muse and the bouncy rhythms of The Futureheads, you’ll find them here. Chris Wall’s honeyed vocals are the strongest aspect of the band. There just isn’t enough personality here to separate them from them the rest of the flock. Sure, songs like “Shooting Star” and “No More Running Away” have their charming moments and definitely hint of what they are capable of, but there aren’t enough of them.
~ Carlos
March 05 2008 |
