Patent Pending

Heavens | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 12, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Epitaph / Ada
• ASIN: B000H7J9XA
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #132,641 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Gardens

2. Counting

3. Heather

4. Patent Pending

5. Dead End Girl

6. Doves

7. Another Night

8. Annabelle

9. Watching You

10. True Hate

11. Leave

Editorial Reviews

Fans of Matt Skiba's other band, Alkaline Trio, are already spreading the word about Heavens. Mining that rich, dark vein of 1980's songwriting that's suddenly back on the radio with a vengeance, this debut allows Skiba to explore a different side of his songwriting, calling upon the influence of the Sisters Of Mercy rather than the Ramones or Misfits as with Alkaline Trio. His lyrics are as beautiful as they are eerie, his vocal melodies at once darkly hypnotic and intensely catchy, while collaborator Josiah Steinbrick builds great minimalist guitar parts in the tradition of Wire and New Order. Producer Ben Lovett adds ambient backdrops and lush string arrangements, making the whole a beautiful decaying masterpiece, catchy enough to bring Alkaline Trio's legions along for the ride, darkly angular enough to intrigue fans of Interpol.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Won't you please step inside..., September 14, 2006

By 

Ben Dugan "Ben Dugan" (Flying Monkey Killer) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Patent Pending (Audio CD)

Like a lot of people who are interested in this project, my main point of entry into Heaven's debut record was Alkaline Trio's Matt Skiba, one of rocks most underrated singers and lyricists. Alhtough I was a little worried when I heard the groups other half was Josiah Steinbrick, a member of F-Minus, a group I'm not fond of, I still ordered "Patent Pending" out of sheer curiousity, which works roughly half the time.
Well, I'm happy to report that this time it paid off as "Patent Pending" is a very strong album, not flawless or, too some people, something you've never heard before, but still a worthy addition to your record collection if you're a fan of Skiba, Steinbrick or their influences (more on those later).
"Patent Pending" forges the same path that many bands go with these days: post-punk new wave/ goth. But this isn't the Killers or the Bravery; Skiba, Steinbrick and their producer/ third member Ben Lovett are not into the disco side of these groups, but rather the dark, more angular and simplistic styles of Wire, Sisters of Mercy, Television and Joy Division, with more emphasis on melody than their counterparts journies of ragged rythyms and breakneck signature changes.
Almost all of the songs on "Patent Pending" are smartly lo-fi (a welcome change since even the most independent records out there now are overproduced). Guitars are plucked like basses often, the drum ryhthyms are all simple electronic programmed beats, the vocals never pushed to far into the mix. This is a smartly written and recorded record, moving along at brisk pace of forty two minutes, never out staying it's welcome.
"Heather" is an almost sweet song in it's execution, where the title track is the most driving tune on the record, the closest the record gets to the speed or sound of either members previous bands. "Leave" is a somber way to end the record, and "Missing You", the records best track, adds some Smiths-style guitar playing to the electro-heavy record, and features a truly anthemic chorus.
Skiba is in top form here, lyrically and vocally, dropping his register down a few notches to better suit the tone of the record, but Steinbrick is the star here really, who reveals himself to be an excellent songwritter and musician, never over stuffing the songs and allowing them to breathe (respect here should also go to the records producer Ben Lovett who, again, is pretty much a third member in the band, arranging the eloquently used string section and playing a litany of instruments throughout the record).
My chief flaw with this record is that if you are familiar with the groups influenced will know pretty much everything here. But that's actually gives away to one of this records most welocme surprises: unlike many groups with simiular influences, like the aforementioned Killers or Bravery, but also acts such as the truly abyssmal, it's-gotta-be-parody-right? She Wants Revenge, Skiba and Steinbrick do not merely re-write their favorite songs here but build upon the template they are working in.
"Patent Pending" isn't gonna change your life or anything. But I bet if you like dark, angular post-punk then you will enjoy this record. But if you're expecting another Alkaline Trio, or F-Minus, record here you will probably be dissapointed.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Joy Divison + Alkaline Trio - punk = Heavens, October 11, 2006

By 

max abrams "max" (Newark, DE) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Patent Pending (Audio CD)

Alkaline Trio is one of my favorite contemporary rock bands (, along with Rancid and The Strokes). Though i am a happy, well-adjusted 30 year old guy, i also have a weird penchant for New Wave Goth music. So, basically, Heavens was made for me.

If you listen to Joy Division/New Order, this album will make complete sense to you immediately and you will almost certainly like it. I totally dig it. i enjoyed it from the first listen and it has hardly left my CD player since i bought it last month.

If you are a punk/emo fan who happens to like Alkaline Trio, then you might be put off by the slow pace of the songs. Also, Matt Skiba is obviously NOT the lead guitarist of Heavens, and Heavens is not nearly as hard as Alkaline Trio.

That's pretty much the story. If you don't listen to Joy Division, Siouxie and the Banshees, The Cure, Echo and the Bunnymen, or Interpol, then Heavens probably isn't for you.
If you're an adult goth (not a miserable child who wears black because the jocks and cheerleaders pick on you), then Heavens is a must have.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Changed it to 4 stars, February 4, 2007

By 

Joseph - See all my reviews

This review is from: Patent Pending (Audio CD)

I initially gave this cd a 3, because after a couple listens I just wasn't that into it. I put it on my ipod and a week or so later I started liking it more and more, I wish I would have given it a 4. I would definitely recommend listening to this more than once or twice, even if you don't like it, to ensure you have noticed everything that's going on with this cd.

Matt Skiba's singing here is incredible. He has always been great with Alkaline Trio, and this album allows him to explore a less raspy, more emotional tone of voice that's reminiscent of the typical robotic 80's pop star sound, but clean and still very unique. His lyrics, as always, are sinister and poetic.

The music on the album is also amazing. It has a very dark and ominous sound and compliments Skiba's vocals perfectly. The New Order and Interpol comparisons make sense at times, but these guys definitely have their own thing going on too. It's definitely worth buying.