Eisley - Laughing City CD/EP

Few things are more annoying than the 'tip of the tongue' experience. This happens to me all too frequently, usually in the context of a lame attempt to describe a band to somebody...but the danged name just won't dislodge itself from my brain:

"You know..that band with the singer who used to be in that that sorta-blues band that had that song that ...uh...arghh!!!"

With Eisley it's different. Every time I've listened to them I've heard similarities to other bands...at least I think I do...'cause I just can't quite put my finger on who they sound like.

Today two names finally pop into my head: Radiohead and Letters To Cleo (never thought I'd see those two names in the same sentence). Ah...did I feel better after figuring that out!

This doesn't mean that Eisley' sound is merely a cross between those two groups...but the combination of the guitar crunch of Chauntelle & Sherri DuPree with the vocals of Sherri & Stacy DuPree makes me think of Letters To Cleo's "Here and Now". The Radiohead factor comes in with the use of melody. Just check out the cool 'bent' vocals during the opener "I Wasn't Prepared". Another example: "Over The Mountains", where all instruments except a single keyboard drop away during the bridge to hilight a stark and twisty vocal line. Nice. Come to think of it, I hear a little Bjork in there too.

Ok, so what's with all these DuPree's? There's also Weston DuPree on drums. That makes four of 'em. Add "best friend" Jon Wilson on bass and you've got one promising band.

Cripes, they're all so young (the oldest being 20)...I hope they stick around to put out some more material. Coldplay was smart enough to have them open some dates this summer so hopefully that'll get them some more recognition.

Maybe a few years from now I'll be able to call them "Eisley" instead of "...you know...that group with the brother and three sisters who sorta sound like that other group who had that song that...uh...arghhh!!!!"

(First posted on Mark Is Cranky)

Article Author: Mark Saleski

Mark Saleski is a writer and music obsessive based out of the Monadnock region of New Hampshire. He has contributed to Jazz.com and also writes reviews for Blogcritics.org. He produces the weekly feature The Friday Morning Listen. …

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