2 posts tagged “starsailor”

Here are Jason’s favorite albums of the year so far, as spotlighted in our Summer Music Guide. See ALL our DJ’s picks and more.

Jason Bentley (host of Morning Becomes Eclectic and KCRW Music Director)

1) Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix  

2) The Horrors - Primary Colors

3) Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career   

4) Grizzly Bear - Veckatimist   

5) Jose James - The Dreamer  

6) Hockey - Mind Chaos  

7) Starsailor - All The Plans  

8) Amadou & Mariam - Welcome To Mali

9) Yeah Yeah Yeah's - It's Blitz   

10) Neko Case - Middle Cyclone   

RR

Starsailor performing "Good Souls"

The first thing Jason Bentley mentioned in his interview with James Walsh was the singer’s distinctive voice. James looked up to Jeff Buckley for his focus on vocal quality over “personality” -- at a time when Liam Gallagher was at the forefront -- and you can hear that in Starsailor. The songs are simply beautiful. The band was successful rather young thanks to the hit “Good Souls” (luckily they threw in an incredible version at the very end of the set) and James jokingly cautioned new bands that it was “all downhill from there unless you’re Coldplay or the Killers.” He was kidding, but he did say bands should embrace and enjoy that attention while they have it. Their latest CD, “All The Plans,” is their fourth album in 10 years. They also have bragging rights to something rather odd – they were the last band to have worked with producer Phil Spector. I got the vibe that he wasn’t the easiest person to work with but came off as eccentric and strange rather than dangerous to the band.

A highlight of the set was “Neon Sky,” where James segued perfectly into Elvis’ “Can’t Help Falling In Love.” I think swoon is the word that comes to mind. 

Check it out

RR