CD Reviews

As Tall As Lions

Triple Crown

By SHARON STEEL | September 5, 2006

3.0 Stars

I’m not sure what sort of albums Jeff Buckley would be making if he were still alive. As Tall As Lions seem to think that his oft-worshipped vocals would do a lot better over stadium-ready atmospheric dream pop than over a lonely guitar. They might be right. ATAL could easily be NME’s latest Manchester buzz boys, except they’re from Long Island, following the tradition of suburban NY scenesters playing to Britpop heroes across the pond. UK festivals haven’t called yet, but the bloggers are all over this four-piece outfit whose sleeper of a third album has left me unable to listen to anything else. There’s something about frontman Daniel Nigro’s staggering range and blissed-out tenor — which wouldn’t be out of place in a sacred choral ensemble — that justifies ATAL’s humdrum lyrics. Buckley devotees may turn their noses up, but Nigro can match him belt for belt, and he sells gag-worthy emo couplets better than Keane or Snow Patrol ever could. Besides, he delivers them with such grace and passion, it’s as if someone’s shitty high-school poem had edited itself into a magnum opus. This album has zero filler, and the midsection — “Ghost of York,” “Love, Love, Love (Love, Love),” “Milk and Honey” — is so saturated with joyous piano trills and sublime choruses, you’ll be gorging on REWIND/REPEAT. When a band move this much this fast, a little indulgence is par for the course.

Topics: CD Reviews , Snow Patrol, As Tall As Lions, As Tall As Lions, More

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