Customer Reviews

The Invitation

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There's nothing startlingly original about the music on young British band Thirteen Senses debut 'The Invitation', but to write them off as unoriginal would be to miss the point. On the evidence here, much of which is stirring and beautiful, this is a group more concerned with breaking hearts than breaking barriers.

I wasn't quite prepared for just how good this is given there are so many bands that peddle this brand of anthemic, melodic pop/rock with such mediocre, hollow results. Thirteen Senses manage to make big sounding music that is also heartfelt and literate.

Comparisons abound to groups like Keane, Coldplay and Embrace (a sort of necessary evil in the case of a new band), and in truth they do fall roughly into the same territory as these bands, though with less grandiosity than Coldplay, more edge than Keane, and at time of writing, better melodies than Embrace.

Given time 'The Invitation' is a real grower, while 'Into The Fire' and 'Thru The Glass' endear themselves immediately, others such as 'Gone', 'Saving', 'Lead Us' and 'Last Forever' prove to be equally very, very good after a few spins.

You only hope Thirteen Senses' label gives them the opportunity to grow as a band, and down the line the chance to deliver on the promise of this excellent debut.

If you like that sort of thing. This is your album. The songs are very hummable. At times orchestral. Not quite sure what he's singing about but it's kind of depressing and introspective. But the singer's voice is really sweet and he sings the songs really well and there's a dreamy, yearning quality about them. He harmonizes with himself and sings close to falsetto. Many highlight songs - Automatic, Do No Wrong, Gone, Saving, The Salt Wound Routine - all great songs.

Very good alblum. Comparable in sound to Keane, but is actually better then Keane's Hopes and Fears. Also with a slightly darker edge. It is well produced. A good addition to anyone's collection.

I love this album although it is true the style is not original, but that does not matter when it is a style that works well.

To me it is a meeting between Keane and Barclay James Harvest with vocals sounding like Al Stewart. As I am forty-something all these features make it an excellent listen. Add the fact that the band are from God's own county (Kernow) and you can't go wrong.

Favourite tracks at the moment (I've only listened to it three times) are the single "Into the Fire", "Do No Wrong" and "Saving" but this will probably change over time.

In summary, if you like Keane, Coldplay, Geneva or even BJH you will love this.

Well, let's just put aside the comparisons to coldplay or keane, and then listent to the cd, so you will realize this is a little bit more a rock album than any of coldplay would be, in they're own style Thirteen Senses offer us twelve really amazing songs with good lyrics, Perfect album to listent to in a rainy afternoon.

In the tradition of Coldplay and Starsailor, new quartet Thirteen Senses' maiden release The Invitation offers twelve delicate, persuasive versions of English gentility. Sure it's a cliché by now - these pasty Brits with their sensitivity and highly evolved access to melody - and we could all make do with our last heaping of hot Coldplay - but Thirteen Senses are dreamier than their counterparts (as in shoe-gazing), and also more pastoral. Will South (vocals, piano, guitar) has a soft, pleasant tenor that floats just above the arpeggiated guitars, and his songs of hopefulness and obsession are a less strident version of JJ72. This is a rainy afternoon, put the kettle on, gaze out the window, dream you were in another place kind of CD. In other words: of limited use, but useful nonetheless.

A lovely album! I am so pleased with this purchase. The sound reminds me a little of Keane's first album. The music is soft and easy and melds with the gentle vocals instead of over powering them. My favorite track is "Gone", but the entire CD can be played without skipping over tracks. This is a fine CD for driving or typing up a report, soothing and calming it doesn't invade the whole room or your senses.

Indeed, more consistent than Hopes and Fears. Still, Into the Fire pretty much outshines the other tracks on the album. In general, this album is very pretty; easy to listen to; less whiny than Coldplay, but similar in texture, perhaps a little less gritty, although Coldplay is hardly gritty itself; composed of more or less standard chord progressions and (mostly) undeceptive melodies backing a very emotive lead. If you like this type of stuff, you'll be pleased, and will definitely sing along to the standouts.

Thirteen Senses use piano, acoustic and electric guitars, and orchestrated strings to wonderful effect. For the sophistication of the compositions this album manages to be pleasantly mellow without ever becoming sonorous or redundant. In fact the richness of the melodies from tune to tune draw you in and keep pulling you happily along. Will South has a very good voice and the lyrics are literate to poetic. Excellent album.

Yes, they sound like bands other reviewers have compared them to (I think it would be redundant to list them all). But, if you like this genre of music, this cd will not disappoint. It is leaps and bounds better than the junk that local radio stations seem to constantly play. New ground is not exactly torn up here, just lightly treaded on. I think it showcases what is right with British music scene. "Into The Fire", "Do No Wrong", and "Saving" all have a unique sound. Yes, it is easy to say "Oh, they sound like..." and insert the band of your choice. Nonetheless, it is worth the (steep) price of admission.