Love is Here

(Capitol)

Looking at the cover art and reading the band name and album title, one may not instantly pick up Starsailor. The album cover has a too-orange, sunset-lit railroad track, and the band's name sounds like a combination between anime and Lisa Frank.

But, according to interviews on Starsailor's Web site, the cover art is purposefully mellow and non-cynical, and the band name comes from Tim Buckley's song of the same name.

"It's meant to be uplifting and positive, because everything around at the moment seems to have quite a cynical edge," lead vocalist James Walsh said on the band's Web site. "We wanted to do something that could be perceived as hippyish."

If you are a fan of Jeff Buckley, you may pick up on the band's homage to the Buckleys, (Jeff and his father, Tim). There is also a little bit of Radiohead, Portishead and a measure of Neil Young.

For Love is Here, the group's debut album, Starsailor enlisted the help of producer Steve Osborne (U2, New Order, Doves) and turned out a melodic and emotional CD. The themes of relationships, disappointment and hope are prominent.

In the song, "Alcoholic," Walsh sings:

"Don't you know you've got your daddy's eyes/Daddy was an alcoholic ·" It's heartbreaking.

Walsh's vocal acrobatics begin to really resemble Jeff Buckley's Grace album on the first song, "Tie up my hands:"

"Wipe the makeup off your face/Tie your hair and gently fall from grace/Until I come again."

Starsailor's influences are somewhat more evident than its own impulses, and the debut leaves room for improvement. The CD is worth a listen, but maybe not worth retail price. Buy Starsailor's influences instead.

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