Heavens - Patent Pending
by Adrian Huggins
published: 19 / 7 / 2006
Label:
Select Label
Format: CD
intro
Surprising Joy Division-inspired debut album from Heavens, the collaboration of Alkaline Trio frontman Matt Skiba and F-Minus guitarirst Joe Steinbrick
This debut album comes from Alkaline Trio frontman Matt Skiba who has teamed up with friend, musician and ex-house mate Joe Steinbrick from the band F-Minus. The pair used to live together in L.A., a few years ago, after both moving there due to their respective bands needing to be near the hub of entertainment, which is the City of Angels. This is not an album, however, which paints pictures of Sunset Boulevard, strip clubs, beaches and Motley Crue. It has far more in common with the grey skies of Manchester circa 1980 and Joy Division. This is very much an electro almost new wave sounding album. It is obviously a bit of an outlet for both musicians and came together with Skiba putting lyrics to Steinbrick's music. The album does have something of the Alkaline Trio with the grim imagery of 'Gardens', 'Counting' and 'Dead End Girl' but at the same time is quite a departure from the ‘Trio, with its lack of guitar work and its much more mellow tempo. There are some fantastic tunes that really stand out and show what these two are capable of, particularly 'Annabelle' and 'Another Night'. These serve to show how the two have talent and vision beyond their “day jobs”. It will be interesting to see to what extent Heavens remains a side project, and to see it come together live with a different musical vibe. If you like you music heavily influenced by the darker side of life, and are of course partial to the likes of Depeche Mode and Joy Division then this could just be the album for you.
Track Listing:-
1 Gardens2 Counting
3 Heather
4 Patent Pending
5 Dead End Girl
6 Doves
7 Another Night
8 Annabelle
9 Watching You
10 True Hate
11 Leave
most viewed articles
current edition
Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies - Sala Apolo, Barcelona, 29/11/2023 and La Paqui, Madrid, 30/11/2023Anthony Phillips - Interview
Difford and Tilbrook - Difford and Tilbrook
Rain Parade - Interview
Oldfield Youth Club - Interview
Autumn 1904 - Interview
Shaw's Trailer Park - Interview
Cafe No. 9, Sheffield and Grass Roots Venues - Comment
Chris Hludzik - Vinyl Stories
Pete Berwick - ‘Too Wild to Tame’: The story of the Boyzz:
most viewed reviews
current edition
Serious Sam Barrett - A Drop of the Morning DewRod Stewart and Jools Holland - Swing Fever
Marika Hackman - Big Sigh
Loves - True Love: The Most of The Loves
Ian M Bailey - We Live in Strange Times
Paul McCartney and Wings - Band on the Run
Autumn 1904 - Tales of Innocence
Roberta Flack - Lost Takes
Banter - Heroes
Posey Hill - No Clear Place to Fall
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart