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The Eagles have landed Chris Philpott discovers the band that could check out any time it liked, but could never leave… Pluto Sunken Water Following on from the success of their sophomore effort Pipeline Under the Ocean, Pluto return with their third, and totally under-the-radar, LP Sunken Water – a more than worthy followup for the group While there aren’t any obvious hit singles – a la their 2 biggest hits “Dance Stamina” and “Long White Cross” – this is a sleekly produced and highly enjoyable album that cashes in on the groups reputation for breezy, laid-back pop and catchy vocals courtesy of frontman Milan Borich. Dripping with sexy synth-pop fusion and moving indie-rock sensibilities, Water is the sound of a group really discovering what they are capable of. Each track ebbs and flows, carrying the listener on the journey that makes up each song, giving the album as a whole an almost transcendent feel. Borich’s unique voice adds another dimension throughout, oozing confidence while shifting to softer, almost falsetto tones when necessary, giving songs like first single “French Grave” and standout “Waiting Watching” a dimension that sets Pluto apart from their peers. That said, these guys also know how to rock when the occasion calls for it, making Sunken Water one of the most well-rounded Kiwi records of the year. The Eagles Long Road Out of Eden A lot has been said about The Eagles long-awaited return – indeed, Long Road Out of Eden took 6 years to arrive since it was first announced – and with good reason: its been 28 years since their last release, and Eden comes after the legendary Hell Freezes Over tour, referring to when the group might reform. No wonder it’s been a chilly summer so far. Of course, the main problem with such high expectations is 92 INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM February 2008
whether or not they can be reached. The true answer is it’s hard to know at this point. The Eagles’ legacy is built on classic tracks like “Hotel California”, “Take It Easy” and “Life In The Fast Lane” – time-tested hits that are perhaps better now than when they came out. Many of these new songs, particularly first single “How Long”, possess the same qualities as those hits of old, while musically the material has a definite southern feel that crosses into the silky smooth harmonies that Henley and company seem to be so adept at. Tracks like “Guilty of the Crime” and “Somebody” especially stand out. Is it as good as the material of old? I certainly enjoyed it as much, but only time will truly tell. Three Houses Down Dreadtown It was with great enthusiasm that I got stuck into the debut from Three Houses Down (3HD), one of my favourite live local bands of the moment, and let me say upfront that I was not disappointed. Behind the impressive, wide-ranging vocals of Charlie Pome’e (one gets the sense he could sing anything you put in front of him), 3HD have fashioned a debut record that builds on their innate talent for old-school sounding funk & reggae and spiritually-searching lyrics, a la Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff or UB40, as well as a natural leaning toward a more Kiwi/Pacific roots sound, typical of the swag of chart-toppers like Fat Freddys Drop, Katchafire or the Black Seeds. That said… I find the reggae feel extremely repetitive, and Dreadtown is no exception. I love the sound and feel of the group, and I genuinely feel like this is a band stacked with talent and on the cusp of something big, but by the halfway point, I started pining for something that sounded a little different. Tracks like “What Babylon Wants” and “Island Lullaby” standout, and opening track “Dandyman” is sheer reggae genius. I just found it extremely hard to get through Dreadtown in one sitting.