Longview frontman Rob McVey talks of his admiration of Bob Dylan and the hippy Love God's musical influence can be heard throughout the band's debut album.
Dreamy lyrics abound through the 12 tracks held together by some sweet tunes. But while Dylan packed a punch through the drug-fuelled haze of the 60s, his poetic anthems have been replaced by harder-edged offerings.
And that's where this album falls flat. Easy on the ear it may be but a rambling selection of songs - all very much the same - does little for me.
There is no doubt that McVey has a fine voice - somewhere between Julian Cope and Morrisey - but there are a plethora of gifted singers out there doing the rounds at the moment and the majority of those deliver their songs with the passion to make themselves heard above the crowd.
Production on the album is very good and the addition of some hypnotic backing vocals on Falling For You makes this the pick of the bunch.
McVey wraps up the album with the lines 'Probably the sound of angels is what I'm hearing in my head' - that just about sums it up!
For those looking for a little light backing music to do something more interesting to this summer, then give Longview's debut a listen. Others should steer clear.
DL
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