The Veils - The Runaway Found

On a drive with my girlfriend to a graduation party, I popped in The Runaway Found. Her first observation was that the lead singer (Finn Andrews) sings like Rufus Wainwright. The next song, the guy from Coldplay. Track three, Dave Matthews. A track or two later, I found myself asking “Is that The Strokes?” In addition to a mild case of vocal schizophrenia, some of the songs do have a tendency to drone. You keep waiting for something to break out, but it usually doesn’t. “More Heat than Light” kicks it up a notch, but the result feels a little contrived. However, all is not lost. Whimsically reflective, “The Wild Son” and the slower-building “Talk Down the Girl” are sure favorites. As for the less immediately accessible songs, there is a good chance they will grow on you as well. The album literally has a cooling effect on the body, like drinking a tall glass of iced tea on a hot day. Hard to explain, but true. The same elements that originally come across as flaws turn into strengths. The music sucks you in and relaxes your breathing. Gentle strings and British crooning are likely culprits. [www.theveils.com]