TexasGigs.com Review: Life's Design Of Mind by The Wishlist
Rich Williams
least a few memorable, if not great, tracks. However, there are also a
couple of awkward moments on the album, when it is unclear what kind of
band The Wishlist intends to be. The majority of the time, their music
could be classified as charming piano rock, but occasionally it edges
towards predictable, top 40 alternative.
Such is the case with "Reflections Of Me," the second track and my
least favorite. The first fifteen seconds are promising (the intro
actually sounds a little like Bloc Party), but when the lead singer
joins in with the angst-ridden line, "I'm drowning in a sea found
in between my ego and my insecurities," it kind of ruins the fun.
Then again, if we're being honest here, that brand of self-criticism
is found all over the radio these days, so it's not as if The
Wishlist is doing anything new or wrong by jumping on the bandwagon,
which might, in itself, be part of the problem. Life's Design Of Mind
doesn't always feel terribly original.
But just when the album is in danger of being uninteresting, The
Wishlist finds its rightful place in the piano rock genre. "Nova"
has that irresistible, Coldplay-esque appeal generated by soaring
piano, dreamy guitar, and tight harmonies. Similarly enchanting are the
last two songs, the title track and "This Is Love."
The Wishlist's softer moments are their most winning, and it's only
when they stray from that formula that they falter. Even still, a
critical listener may not find anything new here. But the music is
accessible enough that the average listener (who doesn't necessarily
care about originality) will be more than satisfied.
By Caroline North
http://www.texasgigs.com/news/2006/jun/16/album-review-ilifes-design-mindi-wishlist/