Holiday Shores – Columbus’d the Whim

Imperfect Shores

Columbus’d the Whim, the first full-length LP by alternative-experimental band Holiday Shores, leaves listeners inexplicably undecided. Lead by highly original lead singer Nathan Pemberton, the album is like a blend of MGMT and Arcade Fire, yet plays like an extremely experimental fusion of sounds and intense vocals. Some tracks truly seem promising, but the album is not without flaws.

One thing is certain; the sounds are quite unique and original. Some songs such as “Reruns and Errand of Tongue” display the album’s hint of brilliance through the catchy melodies and sweet, memorable lyrics like “Just like the heart that I gave when you go off / Oh this shows there is no one like you.” Other tracks seem to lull and hypnotize the listener in what could be a positive or highly negative manner. This is probably due to the lack of dynamic changes between tracks. It seems to be the same sound coming from most songs. Pemberton’s voice,is enchanting, but variation is a must in the music industry, something the entire album lacks. However, the structure of the lyrics provide the most diversity. There seems to be no real structure, just an impressive flow of thoughts and emotions. Excellent synthesized sounds and thoughtful lyrics prove to be the strongest areas of the album.

All in all, the album has some definite flaws, but shows great potential for the newly fresh group from Florida. Though the imperfections seem to be quite evident, this is potentially what music lovers have been waiting for. It has been too long without any new approaches to alternative music. This album has some excellent potential and is well worth listening to with an open ear and mind.