According to their bio singer/songwriter PETE YORN played bass in an early line-up of COLOR WALL; not sure why we're informed of this fact. Listening to this fifth release and first full-length by COLOR WALL, I can only say he's right not to be in the band anymore, since with his excellent "Musicforthemorningafter" he's proven to be much better of on his own. As for COLOR WALL, the majority of "The View From Above" sounds like a hard rockin' shoegazer band. Think a beefed-up version of THE STONE ROSES or THE CHARLATANS. Now, while these bands certainly had their moments there's not much I find too exciting about COLOR WALL's combination of whiny vocal harmonies, dull melodies and skinny, soulless dance-grooves. No matter how well played and produced it all is, listening to these nagging, droning indie-pop tunes I'm just sitting here wishing the goddamn album was over so I can finish this bloody review and do something interesting with my time.

And then halfway on the album, just when I'm about to throw in the towel, there's some interesting musical moments. The one minute long "Surf Anthem For A New Millenium" is an honest-to-God punk rocker! "Just What I Needed" is a pretty decent version of the well known pop/rock-classic by THE CARS, and the excellent "Future Psych" is the best song TEENAGE FANCLUB never wrote. As immensely enjoyable as these songs are, they're not enough to save this album of course, since they arrive like General Custer's troops; too little, too late. But still, if COLOR WALL would lay off the half-assed dance-beats next time and just stick to rockin' out, maybe they can come up with a completely decent record. This album as a whole is only interesting for shoegazer completists.

- Van Hoften

OFFICIAL SITE: www.colorwall.com

MP3 SOUND SCRAP: My Winger Tree

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