The Head and the Heart : Let’s Be Still
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The Head and the Heart : Let’s Be Still

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The Head and the Heart know their sound. But while they may have conquered it, whether or not they have exhausted it is debatable. On their sophomore effort, Let’s Be Still, the Seattle six-piece once again play upon their penchant for making feel-good, dreamy Americana, proving that they are still firm believers in sticking to what they know rather than exploring their creative boundaries. 

Over the span of 13 tracks, they take their listeners on a journey through delicate harmonies, elegant violins and poignant piano, all topped off by Charity Thielen’s goddess-like vocals. The singer/violinist is arguably the strongest reason why the band have set themselves apart from a seemingly endless roster of emerging indie-folk Americana outfits with her ethereal vocals haunting tracks such as Summertime and These Days Are Numbered.

 

Ballads Cruel and 10,000 Weight in Gold are near perfect illustrations of songwriters Jonathan Russell and Josiah Johnson’s ability to craft stirring tales of despair which are intensified by powerful harmonies. That’s not to say that more upbeat tracks such as Homecoming Heroes and Shake can’t stand their ground, however they come across as remarkably similar to the majority of the band’s debut self-titled album. While it’s hard to fault a band for not taking risks on only their second effort, Let’s Be Still exhibits that they are completely content to stick with what they know.

Let’s Be Still is a charming follow-up record that will undoubtedly keep their fans happy. They may have stuck to the tried and true, but the up-and-comers have managed to succeed in constructing a coherent collection of delightful indie folk.  

BY LAUREN GILL

Best Track: 10,000 Weight in Gold

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In a Word: Hearty