Starsailor makes debut

By Cheryl Noland

Do newcomers Starsailor have what it takes to differentiate themselves from all the other modern rock bands out there?

Sure, their songs might remind us of fellow Brits Coldplay and Travis. Even "Poor Misguided Fool" fools me into thinking they ripped off Fastball's "The Way." But something about Love Is Here, Starsailor's debut album, convinces me that they're something special.

Starsailor's simple yet precocious melodies mixed with frontman James Walsh's somber falsetto is a pleasant combination, most notably on the soothing "Lullaby" and the rhythmic "Fever." It's no surprise that 21-year-old Walsh cites passionate singer Jeff Buckley as one of his main influences. His sensitive lyrics and emotional vocals seem rather personal. Sometimes it feels like Walsh is reciting a story or teaching a lesson. For example, on the title track, "Love Is Here," he cries, "You can't love what you have not. So hold on to what you've got."

What really makes Starsailor's album appealing is the easy listening quality of their music, and by that I don't mean more rock, less talk elevator music. It's one of the few CD's where there really aren't any bad songs that you have to bypass. Their first single, "Good Souls," proves they will last a whole lot longer than so many unforgettable one-hit wonders. B+