The Electric Soft Parade - Holes In The Wall (2002)

The idea of two English late-teenage brothers in a band together may
conjure up thoughts of Oasis via Silverchair, but Holes in the Wall, Alex
and Tom White's debut album as the Electric Soft Parade, is a surprisingly
assured album. Like Oasis and Silverchair, the Electric Soft Parade proudly
wear their musical influences on their sleeves, as Holes in the Wall
reveals intimations of bands like Ash, Grandaddy, and Teenage Fanclub.
While Holes in the Wall veers more toward indie and psychedelic rock as
opposed to the more straightforward power pop of contemporaries Weezer and
Sloan, one of the album's greatest virtues is its memorable melodies, as
exemplified in the catchy choruses of songs like "Empty at the End" and
"Silent to the Dark." The White brothers also have ear-catching production
on their side, giving their album true flavor by infusing it with splashes
of electronics and keyboards, psychedelic swirl, and the occasional
irregular time signature. The ESP have certainly proved that they can rock
(embodied by "There's a Silence"), but most of their slower songs and
ballads seem a step behind the rest of the album. Despite a thrilling first
half, Holes in the Wall does lose some of its steam in the back end. Still,
the Electric Soft Parade have produced a fine debut that should place them
firmly in the midst of the post-Brit-pop musical landscape, a scene that
they have the potential to shape as they mature.