ASLEEP AT HEAVEN’S GATE - ROGUE WAVE
Perhaps tired of existing in the shadow of the Shins at Sub Pop, Rogue Wave joins Jack Johnson’s Brushfire label for its third and most ambitious release. “Asleep” is notable for its beefed-up instrumentation and an overall darker tone than its predecessors. The chugging opener “Harmonium” denotes this shift in direction, propelled by pounding piano and clocking in at six-and-a-half minutes. “Ghost” swirls with feedback and a soaring chorus and “Phonytown” is a driving rocker backed by a funky bassline. The album still boasts Rogue Wave’s familiar lighter fare, namely the summery hook of “Lake Michigan” and the lo-fi goodness of “Chicago X 12.” “Fantasies” offers up Shins-esque “la la las,” and the stirring “Missed” is a heartbreaking ballad, as frontman Zach Rogue sings, “I could will you to stay but I guess you made up your mind,” before solemnly asking, “So, what’s next?”
