Essex four piece We Are The Ocean break away from the scene with a grown up sound.
With the departure of Dan Brown, Maybe Today, Maybe Tomorrow is the first release with the deep and clean tones of vocalist Liam Cromby, this move while may have disappointed fans, but is the reason this album stands out from their contemporaries. By dropping the ‘Blink-182 wannabe’ tag so many bands wear like an honor, they’ve swam towards a lighter melodic pond.
Single ‘Bleed’ is a nice bridge between this and their second album ‘Go now and live’ before we descend into a more indie sounds reminiscent of Editors and the radio friendly Biffy Clyro.
While not perfect this is an album that has lots of potential. ‘Story of a Modern Child’ and ‘Chin Up Boy’ show vocalist Liam’s refreshingly clean vocals. Not only has the new direction confused fans at times it sounds like the band is equally as confused as influences jump from dark modern rockers to bouncy American coming-of-age movie soundtrack.
The fast paced classic rock influence doesn’t stop for a breath until the acoustic ‘Chin Up Boy’, and it does drag a little in the middle with the second single ‘The Road’ (below) discreetly blending in to the background.
It might not be the reaction the band were looking for bu overall We Are The Ocean’s third album is ‘nice’. It’s not changing the airwaves and starting genre revolutions but it’s a good listen. This new direction is certainly getting them airplay so it could be they are are going to big.
“Maybe Today, Maybe Tomorrow” is out September 17th.
For more info visit www.wearetheocean.co.uk