Heaven Alive

by

Oceansize

Edit

To each his own. Oceansize is certainly one of the best bands going right now, and I think Everyone into Position is an album that proves it, top to bottom. But at the same time, I also think the new album, while more forceful than their debut album, Effloresce, and while it permits us more insight into the band's personality, misses some of the truly beautiful moments of Effloresce, the textured, panoramic instrumentals.

As a song, "Heaven Alive" is a nice offering, whether you're talking about the full-length version or the radio cut you'll find here. Really highlights Oceansize's similarities to Radiohead. But it's the B-side of this single that really brings the band back to its strengths, the full-blown instrumentals. In a word, this song kicks. As I listen to "I/B/O/W," the first thing I wonder is why song didn't make the album. And the next thing I wonder is why THIS AMAZING SONG wasn't the first track off EiP to hit radio.

Alas, we don't live in a musical culture favorable to instrumentals. I guess that answers one of my questions about "I/B/O/W." As to the other question, I can't say. EiP is a great album as-is, but surely there would have been room on it for one more track, especially a track this good. Whatever. The band had their reasons, I guess.

All I'll say is that this is the quality of music that, 3 decades ago, would have DEFINED its generation. Today, it's almost countercultural. Do you know how hard it is to find Oceansize material in the United States? Sometimes I think I'm the only person this side of the pond who has heard about these guys. That's a shame.

I guess it also helps that I bought the single new for $3.99. At a price like $11.99, I might not be lucky enough to own this song today.

In any case, as you can surely tell by now, I fully endorse & recommend this single. If you find it cheaper than 10 bucks, you're doing yourself a disservice not to make the investment.

ok.. this band is by far one of the best bands playing now.... comparable to the mars volta, tool and radiohead in concept and scope. however, this single leaves a little to be desired. heaven alive is the radio edit version and i'm not one for the radio... this only means the song has been shortened to fit in a standard time slot allotted for a radio song, but oceansize isn't a band that should be compressed and shortened to fit on the radio... the other song, i/b/o/w is a nice instrumental, but with that being said, i feel in order to give fans something worthwhile, an instrumental should be followed up by a b-side from the record. just giving us a b-side instrumental seems a little weak... the song is great, don't get me wrong. i just feel for $11.99 you should get at least 2 unreleased songs... . .

but, be sure to check out their first full length effloresce, music for nurses ep, and the full length this single was taken from, everyone into position....