Maritime: Heresy and the Hotel Choir

Maritime: Heresy and the Hotel Choir Heresey and the Hotel Choir is the third full length album for Maritime. Maritime is comprised of ex-members of the Promise Ring and the Dismemberment Plan, both big names in their own right. The funny thing about Maritime is they are nothing like Promise Ring or the Dismemberment Plan. The only thing that really remains from those two bands is Davey von Bohlen's (former singer for the Promise Ring) vocals. His vocals have always seemed a little timid. With Promise Ring it was no problem because he was singing relatively timid songs, Maritime is a different beast. Maritime is a perfect indie pop band. The songs are light and fluffy. They try to stay away from cliched love songs. The album opens with "Guns of Navarone". Not a Skatalites cover, but it's jangly chorus has a ska element to it. Like all of Von Bohlen's song writing it's melodic and hook laden. "Hand Over Hannover" is maybe the heaviest song by Maritime yet. With it up tempo drum beat and beat skipping chorus, it gives Heresy the perfect mid-album booster shot. "Pearl"'s heavy bass line and jangly guitar is reminiscent of early R.E.M. in the best way possible. Overall, it seems like Maritime keeps getting better and better. Their debut Glass Floor had several classic tracks. Their sophomore effort We, The Vehicle made my best of list of last year. Heresy and the Hotel Choir is poised to do the same thing. Rating: 8.6/10 MP3: Maritime "Pearl"