In a lot of ways The Walkmen have devolved into a band that simply exists for the sake of existing. They have little to say and say it in a very uninteresting way.
Nothing about the album, the lyrics, the energy, the melodies, the hooks, the arrangements, is exceptional. It's all a morass of average. It's rare that a band does not excel at a single element of their music, but The Walkmen accomplish that feat on Heaven.
We are treated to an instance of passion during "Song for Leigh", but even that is short-lived.
The best moments come on "The Love You Love" and "Heartbreaker". Both are Strokes-lite-lite-lite garage rock-esque numbers with decent melodies. Yet they sound as derivative as anything I've heard all year, but that says a lot about the rest of the record.
Heaven is an album that truly reflects where The Walkmen currently are as a band. Much like the band itself, the record is just there.
The Walkmen play the Molson Ampitheatre in Toronto on August 2nd opening for Florence + The Machine.
Best tracks: "Heartbreaker", "The Love You Love"
Track listing for Heaven:
- We Can't Be Beat
- Love Is Luck
- Heartbreaker
- Witch
- Southern Heart
- Line By Line
- Song for Leigh
- Nightingales
- Jerry Jr's Tune
- The Love You Love
- Heaven
- No One Ever Sleeps
- Dreamboat
4.5/10
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