Eisley - Combinations

  by Russell Ferguson

published: 5 / 9 / 2007

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Review

Why have I never heard of Eisley until now ? Even if you sold your soul to the devil he would only give you these tunes grudgingly. This band should be selling records in shed loads and be on MTV on a repeat cycle but unfortunately they are doing neither. Eisley hail from Texas, which may explain why we have not heard much over in Britain about this band, but how long can you keep something like quiet? 'Combinations' is the second album from the band, which features brothers, sisters and cousins Sherri, Stacy, Chauntelle, Weston and Garron DuPree. The opening song ‘Many Funerals’ sounds a kin to Sally Oldfield 'Moonlight Shadow' but with more power and conviction. It whets your appetite for the rest of the album. 'Invasion' does not disappoint. It has another soaring melody that just keeps reaching for the sky and a thundering beat to keep it all together and match. The lyrics throughout are thoughtful and imaginative. "And you-you-you will take the breath from my throat" or "Just some abandoned little crook like me" are two lines from 'Ten Cents Blues'. Eisley are best described as alternative folk but they have an amazing amount of power in the songs which throughout 'Combinations' are well crafted and have great variation. Eisley are giving the Howling Bells and the Delays a good run for their money. The vocals on these songs are just beautifully haunting. Sherri and Stacey can sing with the best of them. By the time you get to end of this record you just want to hear more.

Track Listing:-

1 Many Funerals
2 Invasion
3 Taking Control
4 Go Away
5 I Could Be There for You
6 Come Clean
7 Ten Cent Blues
8 A Sight to Behold
9 Combinations
10 If You're Wondering
11 Golly Sandra
12 Marvelous Things