Doves - Some Cities

The Dove’s last album, Last Broadcast, will go down in history as one of my favorite albums of all time. Whenever I want music that will inspire me to get through some crappy work, carry me on a plane flight, or really anytime I want something to simultaneously soothe me and give me chills, Last Broadcast is what I put on. With that said, I had really high hopes for the band’s latest album, Some Cities, and was very afraid of being let down. Although somewhat different from Last Broadcast, Some Cities still has the charm and overall feeling that I have come to expect from Doves. This time around the music is generally less complex, less layered, (although some atmospheric masterpieces are still hidden in here) and more stripped down. The beauty with this approach is that even when you strip down the band’s sound and showcase a much more basic song structure, you really get to see how solid their song writing is. Whether it is that persistent simple beat or the recurring guitar riff, the band manages to keep your attention. Many will compare this album to the band’s debut, Lost Souls, and write Last Broadcast off as an unwelcome tangent for the band. However, I think it is only when you put all three releases together that you see how much the band has grown and how aware they are of what does and doesn’t work for them. With Some Cities, Doves have taken one more step to proving they are a band truly worthy of your ears. [www.doves.net]