Track Listing

1. Music Was Saved
2. Fidelity
3. Some Of Us
4. Silence Is Easy
5. Telling Them
6. Shark Food
7. Bring My Love
8. White Dove
9. Four To The Floor
10. Born Again
11. Restless Heart
12. At The End Of A Show (U.S. bonus track)
13. She Understands (U.S. bonus track)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #115310 in Music
• Released on: 2004-01-27
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Enhanced, Extra tracks

Amazon.com
Awash in the same Britpop romanticism of their debut Love Is Here, Starsailor's Silence Is Easy strains with the weight of the band's next-big-thing status. In response to the clamor anointing them as the next Verve or Coldplay, Starsailor try to meet the expectations with sheer weight of conviction. They even lured legendary producer Phil Spector out of retirement to boost their sound into new realms of lovelorn sincerity. Occasionally, it works; "Music Was Saved" opens with a burst of sunny, Echo and the Bunnymen-like pop, as singer James Walsh sweetly layers his delicate voice through a brisk, catchy chorus. Also impressive is the title track, thick with tender emoting and soaring melodies. Too often though, the band gets stuck in syrupy sentiment, like a cover band playing to the cheap seats. Ballads like "White Dove" try for melancholy allure, but come closer to maudlin excess while emphasizing Walsh's lack of dynamic range. This may not be the big "statement" record they tried for, but getting the attempt out of their system will hopefully allow them to relax and tap their considerable pop savvy in the future. --Matthew Cooke

Customer Reviews

Music was saved
There's really nothing BAD about Starsailor. Their singing and instrumentation are pleasant but nothing special, and their Britpop-lite sound is unlikely to win converts, but please fans. "Silence is Easy," their sophomore album, has some truly wonderful songs, but stumbles over its own maudlin pretensions.

It kicks off on a positive note, with the dancey upbeat pop of "Music Was Saved," and follows up with the electric-violin sound of "Bring My Love," and the piano-thumping title track. It's fun when these guys break out the grittier instrumentation, giving an edge to their basic melodies. Call me weird, but I like the band dark and strange.

Unfortunately, about half the songs cross the line into... well, goopiness. Often the melodies are quite pretty, with ripply guitar and airy sound effects. But James Walsh seems to be trying to wring every ounce of possible angst from the songs. In a nutshell, he sounds melodramatic, wailing above the music that someone should, "Put away your doubt,/That would help us out,/Just be sure to call before you cry." Erg.

The basic pop instrumentation is nothing special, with some nice percussion and guitar, but not much to write home about. But Starsailor spices things up a little by adding in a handful of unique musical flourishes. One song opens with a harmonica over the guitar melody, and "Telling Them" climaxes with a truly exquisite, uplifting string solo.

Starsailor is, oddly enough, not at their best when they are upbeat and poppy, or even depressed and angsty. (No emo!) "Shark Food" is perhaps the best song of the album -- eerie pop melodies, and some deeply disturbing lyrics: "Sunshine in the glory skies, when the broken men open up their eyes... We're stepping through the door, we're shooting from the heart/But if we get it wrong, they'll feed us to the sharks." Walsh delivers them in a grave, almost stoned-sounding voice.

Starsailor gets mopey in their sophomore album "Silence Is Easy," but they have some standout songs that keep it from being a tearstained sobfest. If they follow the darker, grittier paths on here, then the boys will have it made.

One Step Forward; One Step Back
I think Silence Is Easy is a very good album. However, as with the last, I feel there is something missing. This time, it is not a lack of tightness or energy by any means. I feel that just when they've rid themselves of one major problem, they've come upon another, sadly.

Whereas Love Is Here felt like it had shoddy production that couldn't capture the vibrant beauty and spirit of the songs, Silence Is Easy's vibrancy and spirit come from the skillful production and not necessarily the songs. This makes for a more listenable album than the last, I would have to admit. It holds your attention, just not for as long as a Starsailor album should I think. Love Is Here had me enthralled at their shows, but listening on my player left a pervasive emptiness.

Music Was Saved is a brilliant opener, Silence Is Easy is a noteworthy title track, and Four To The Floor would be my favorite if not for its dance remix feeling cooler than the original...

All in all, I feel this was a step in the right direction. I enjoy each and every song. And now I know they are capable of a studio album that does justice to the excellent songwriting of the band. I will just be keeping my fingers crossed that the next time around, the songwriting will be as inspired and excellent as Love Is Here, with the forcefulness and intensity of Silence Is Easy.

On the top of their game
Star Sailor satisfied my need for some new tunes in between new releases from Coldplay and Radiohead and did it so well that I nearly like them better. This album has complaints of sounding the same throughout, but that is it's strength. I loved every song. This album didn't leave my CD player for a few weeks and by the end I was singing out loud to each and every song. My favorites are "silence is easy," "born again,""some of us," and "fidelity," but heck they are all so good that I could include every one of them. A great album, polished and crystal clear. If you like coldplay or radiohead you'll like these guys. However, band comparisons don't do them justice.

One of my top 5 albums of the year.