Search - Cousteau :: Cousteau

A seductive, rhythmic album laced with 1st class melodies

Erica Anderson | Minneapolis, MN | 05/26/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Nick Cave immediately came to mind when I first heard Liam McKahey sing the first notes to "Your Day Will Come". Although the songs were nowhere near as morbid or melancholy as any Nick Cave song, the vocal comparisons to him is quite evident throughout the cd.I thoroughly enjoyed Cousteau's self-titled album. When I first listened to this album, my impressions were that this would be the perfect cd to listen to during the after hours, when all the bars and clubs have shut down for the night during the weekend. I could almost see this band playing ina smokey basement to a small crowd who are not ready to go home yet.Every song on this album is a winner. Liam McKahey's voice is deep and warm. He also reminds me a bit of Leonard Cohen at times. It shows in the songs that a lot of care went into the writing of the lyrics as well as song structure. I just don't hear that on the first listen with a lot of albums coming out today. I certainly recommend buying this album for anyone curious about Cousteau."

"Cousteau" -- Wonderful pop album

Erica Anderson | 11/06/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"On this debut (actually, a remix of their 1999 debut which has become as mythically unattainable as the holy grail to fans of artists like Burt Bachrach, Jimmy Webb, and Scott Walker looking for a fresh fix), Cousteau deliver eleven of the best constructed pop songs I've heard this year. Davey Ray Moor, the multi-instrumentalist composer, may wear his influences on his sleeve--but what great influences they are. From the Beatles to Nick Drake. Liam McKahey has a stunning baritone voice and many of the songs were assisted by "Tindersticks" arranger, Ian Caple, no stranger to the romantic indie genre. Torch songs set to great rock backgrounds--buy this now. The single "The Last Good Day of the Year" with its "Walk on By" introduction and infectious fluglehorn will haunt you.It will be interesting to see where Davey Ray Moor will take this great group, as their debut displays an artistic maturity it took artists like Neil Hannon, Nick Cave, and the "Tindersticks" several albums to achieve."

Mature, original debut

Andy Agree | Omaha, NE | 03/03/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Cousteau's self-titled CD sounds like a mature work, not a debut. The band has clearly honed an unusual style and is not just experimenting. The quality of the songs varies widely, but the good news is that the high points are very high. My recommendation to those sampling the album for the first time is to try Tracks 1, 2, 3, 6, 8 and 9. I've seen several reviews that say this is "late night smoky lounge" music, and it is, but the best review was one that accused these guys of "shag-pile sensuality" - Yes! There are two lead singers. Liam McKahey is the musky baritone and Davey Ray Moor the delicate tenor, and both are effective. The first track "Your Day Will Come" is among the low-downest, smokiest of them all, and the best of this kind of song that they do. Liam sings as if he has seen everything, done everything, and he's weary of it all, but no, it's still not your time. "The Last Good Day of the Year" picks the pace up, but only a bit. Its gentle trumpet and "ch-ch" guitar scratch are pure Burt Bacharach, specifically "Walk on By", but unlike the preceding song this turns into a soaring song of hope, even if it is only the hope of memory ("There's something there among the fallen fruit and flowers..."). The third track, "Mesmer" is my favorite. There is nothing else I've heard like it, and it's what I call a "close your eyes" song. Sung by Davey, it has a "whirling, swirling" arrangement (from the lyrics), the insistent pulse of acoustic guitar picking and a one-note bass and best of all, a sweetly singing violin. Track 6 "Shades of Ruinous Blue", also sung by Davey, is the best one to enjoy down on the shag-pile. Robin Brown's sweet and simple repeating guitar phrase drives this one. Track 8, "She Don't Hear Your Prayer" and Track 9, "One Good Reason", both sung by Liam, are excellent, and it's worth noting that not until "One Good Reason" does the band show it can actually rock. They do it very nicely, and while they could easily have made this a three-minute song it just gets better and better as they take it to six. I don't care for the other songs on the CD, and the unevenness disqualifies it from getting 5 stars, but these six songs make it a bargain, and they make me wonder what Cousteau will do next."