British Sea Power — Open Season

For their second disc, British Sea Power declare open season on all those Joy Division and Pixies comparisons that dogged their debut, but almost end up shooting themselves in the process. In a strange 180-degree turn, the quintet skip the post-punk growl that marked their acclaimed first disc and focus on Brit-pop. Yan's breathless vocals still sound wide-eyed like early David Bowie or Jarvis Cocker, but rarely achieve the same wondrousness of the former or the charismatic metrosexuality of the latter. There are some fine pop moments here like the starry, Cure-like "Be Gone," strings-drenched "Please Stand Up" and the breezy road trip "The Land Beyond," but it's still a disappointing effort from these eccentrics.

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