Thief & Heartbreaker

Alberta Cross | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 11, 2007)
• Original Release Date: September 11, 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Geffen
• ASIN: B000NIWISQ
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #150,138 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

2007 release from this London band who add their own twist to the Americana sound. Their use of piano, guitar, organ and melodic harmony-laden songs may recall Kings Of Leon, but their distinct Englishness adds understated charm to the songs. Seven tracks including 'Lucy Rider' and 'Hard Breaks'. Polydor.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunningly Unique, Yet Familiar in a Very Good Way, October 27, 2009

By 

Slappy McGee ""local idiot"" (East of San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Thief & Heartbreaker (Audio CD)

I don't know how many times I've read about a band in Rolling Stone that sounded cool in how they were described, had cool influences, even looked cool in the photo - and then I checked out their music and it stunk. Well, I read an article on Alberta Cross a few weeks ago, checked out their website, and listened to a stream of their new album. Instead of the usual few seconds of the first few songs, I listened to the entire thing all at once, and was just captivated. They sound fresh yet familiar, modern yet old, and honest - exactly how I felt when I heard Pearl Jam's and Blind Melon's first records, two debuts I also fell in love with at first listen. Also think Black Crowes, Kings of Leon, Neil Young.

But speaking of this record specifically (the new full-length album, Broken Side of Time, is darker and heavier), it opens with the amazing title track. Drums first, a little bass, some guitar, and then a haunting chord progression, all building up until the stunning voice of Petter Ericson Stakee starts to sing. Fantastic song.

The next two tracks are a bit more upbeat, think Blind Melon, though with melancholy lyrics. The remaining songs are lower-tempo songs of loneliness, trouble and heartbreak - standard lyrical fare, you may think, but even the cliches sound good.

All in all, this is a stunning debut. All seven of the songs are solid; any music listener looking for the perfect blend of classic and modern rock in a new band will absolutely love this great foundation for a very promising band. These guys are the real deal - something I haven't said about a band since KOL hit the scene in 2003.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant!, June 27, 2008

By 

bfolger - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thief & Heartbreaker (Audio CD)

I am not even sure how I found out about these guys. I saw that they were playing the Viper room and decided to check out their MySpace page. Unfortunately I never went to the show but I did become totally addicted their music. Now I can not wait to see them. I digress. Alberta Cross is the first band to get me excited again about music in years. They are hard to categorize but I would say if you put together early 70s Neil Young with Band of Horses and My Morning Jacket and sent them to the depression era South to get some soul, the bubbling creation would be Alberta Cross. I don't mean to name check some of the hotter bands right now but they really do have the americana-folk-beard rock sound but with solid head noodling rhythms. The falsetto stylings of the vocals (def early Young/Jim James) may not appeal to everyone but trust me this guy has range and really an amazing and unique voice. Too bad this is only 7 songs long but TRUST ME - BUY/DOWNLOAD THIS CD immediately. So friggin' good. [..]

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome album, April 12, 2009

By 

J. Griswold "Trigrhapy" (Michigan) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Thief & The Heartbreaker (MP3 Download)

It's good to hear something fresh lately. If you are disappointed with the lack of creativity of rock/alternative, even music in general lately, give this album a chance. Its really something else and I really enjoy it. Although short, it was worth the low price.