“Patent Pending” by Heavens is a mix of soft slow songs and soft fast songs. Overall, this entire album is something to fall asleep to. Most of the songs in this album seem to run into each other when it comes to the sound of the songs. No song sticks out more than any other one. The album does start out with a more upbeat song when compared to the other tracks. Yet, overall, I don’t like this album!
With Josiah Steinbrick, formally of punk band F-Minus, handling all of the musical instruments (guitars,bass, etc.) and Matt Skiba, from Alkaline Trio, on vocal duties, this band has a softer somewhat bland sound.
Heavens is signed to Epitaph records. Epitaph is known for its “indie,” “punk” or “hardcore” bands, or, as I like to say, “crappy bands,” and you know it’s true. With bands like From First to Last, DropKick Murphys and The Dillinger Escape Plan, Epitaph offers an onslaught of “in your face” crappy bands.
Being a huge Alkaline Trio fan, I went into this album thinking that it was going to be a bit like Trio because Matt Skiba is the Heavens singer; however, I was disappointed. I constantly had to turn on some Trio just to remember why I like Skiba.
Overall, Skiba’s voice starts low and sounds somewhat unenthusiastic, as if he doesn’t really care to be singing any of the songs. Mid-album, around the title track, “Patent Pending,” Skiba starts to sound more interested in the songs, and the music becomes more enjoyable. However, with the song, “Watching You,” the album starts singing you to sleep with its lack of anything that grabs your attention. The only really good song on the album is the title track and the only single that the band has released “Patent Pending.”
Lyrically the album is well put together, but much more could have been done with the sound of the vocals. Musically, the album could have tried to achieve different sounds, and not just stick to one generalized sound. Shampoo, rinse, conditioner, rinse and repeat seems to be the formula for this album.
But if you like bland, boring, dull and, overall, weak music, then pick this album up; I’m not glad I did.