Album Review: The Helio Sequence - Keep Your Eyes Ahead

Originally published Feb. 13, 2008 in The Orion

The Helio Sequence
Keep Your Eyes Ahead
Sub Pop Records, 2008
3/5 stars

The Helio Sequence's second album on Sub Pop is a fusion of the label's bands. With a roster like Sub Pop's, borrowing musical formulas from labelmates is not necessarily a bad thing.

The opening track, "Lately," begins with the tranquility of The Album Leaf. Guitars linger and the band channels the earnest sound of Band of Horses.

The Helio Sequence retains its dreamy pop silhouettes, but the softer songs on the album will surprise fans. After losing his voice on tour, singer and guitarist Brandon Summers backed down from his vigorous form of singing and worked his way up to the whispering tones heard on the nostalgic track "Shed Your Love."

"Keep Your Eyes Ahead" is a familiar sound, but the two-piece impressively re-creates the intensity of a full band and adds personality that makes the songs infectious. The chorus from "Can't Say No" sums up the album: "Even if you wanted to, you can't say no."