On the third day of Xmas my AP gave to me ... three girls a-mourning ... Woah, that doesn't sound good does it? Hmm, three girls a-belting? A-singing? A-being sad because their naive preconceptions of life and love have shattered around them and are now forced to deal with the pain of toughening up against a cruel and harsh world? Yes, that's it! That's what this next wonderful album is all about.
The Valley - Eisley
If you've listened to Eisley before (all two of you) then you know that this family band hailing from Tyler Texas totally rocks. But you also know that up until this point their music has been completely happy go lucky, with lyrics hinting at a sheltered and naive life. And there's nothing wrong with that, Eisley is anything if not completely honest, and from what I understand they did grow up in a sheltered home schooled, and not to mention happy, environment. This isn't to say they weren't good, because they were, they rocked. They were this refreshing happy rock that were still able to pull of a haunting vocal style, very unique and interesting. Including songs with an idealized outlook on life and love. I only bring this up because of the surprise I found when first listening to The Valley.
Why surprise? Because The Valley might be the saddest album I've ever listened to. Eisley went from happy go lucky to genuinely poignantly sad. This is a collection of songs written by a girl who's idealistic love story was shattered to pieces, her happy outlook on life stomped to death by a horrible man. From what I understand her husband, the love of her life (possibly that happiness she'd sing about on previous albums) cheated on her and left her. And at about this same time the band was going through major issues with their record company. Okay, sure, these two stories aren't anything new, they're old as time itself in one case, and as old as the music industry in the other. But Eisley took these experiences, hearts on their sleeves, and fueled all of their heartbreak, disappointment, boiling over anger and cynicism and made The Valley. One of the best albums I've ever listened to, ever.
Now plenty of bands have made records about breakups, and yes that's true, but there's something special here. Notice that I have not used the word "emo," which is something that I'm sure is on the tip of your tongue when talking about this sort of thing. Eisley is miles away from emo on this album, they don't for a second sound like they are whining, not once. When you listen to them belt their hearts out about the men that broke their hearts and the world that let them down, whining isn't what comes to mind. No, it's that other word I mentioned before: "honest." Eisley is honest, brutally and bravely so. Hell, their hearts aren't on their sleeves, they're broadcast on a big screen. Listen to these songs and see for yourself: "Smarter," "Oxygen Mask," "Mr. Moon," and possibly the saddest song ever written "Ambulance."
There's something far more effective about their music just knowing that it was an idealistic heart that was crushed, and you don't even need to know their history to get this either. It's painted all over their lyrics and their haunted voices, and it's this that makes Eisley one of the best bands ever, and makes The Valley one of the best albums ever made. The girls have finally grown up, and from what I've read they're doing far better now, new loves and grown up lives. As happy as I am for them, I know that the magic of The Valley may never be repeated. This may well be their masterpiece, their Transatlanticism if you will. But that's okay, I know they'll continue to make wonderful music, maybe even happy music again, and I can always look back to the album that marked the day this horrible world let them down. The day they saw the world through adult eyes, a vision they tried to put off as long as possible, and actually succeeded longer than most. If you want an album that will truly make you feel (because who hasn't loved and lost?) then you should consider picking up The Valley.
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