Civil Twilight - Civil Twilight Review

Posted by Marshall Slayton on 08.20.2009

Fans of Muse, Radiohead, U2, and Coldplay will be in love with this new South African band...



1. Anybody Out There
2. Soldier
3. Next To Me
4. Letters From The Sky
5. On The Surface
6. Trouble
7. Human
8. Perfect Stranger
9. What You Want
10. Something She Said
11. Quiet In My Town

Civil Twilight is a great name for this band.

The South African trio sounds like a cross between the dramatic nature of a Ken Burns Civil War drama score fused with the modern rock staples of a teenage vampire movie. But most accurately, on first listen, vocalist Stephen McKeller sound like a young Bono yanked straight out the Joshua Tree days. (And with quite an impressive vocal range.) The comparisons between other light rock bands are appropriate; the likes of Muse, Coldplay, U2, Radiohead, and Death Cab for Cutie are all prevalent in Civil Twilight’s sound. Unlike No Line on the Horizon and Viva La Vida, Civil Twilight's new self-titled album is worthy of the audience those bands have gathered over time.

“Anybody Out There” sounds like the best U2 from the 80s; a little cold, a shade mysterious, and 100% seductive. It's a wonderful introductory song to the band if you've never heard them before, and sets the mood for the album perfectly. Even though it could have been easily anachronistic as a U2 song trapped 20 years in the future, it never feels dated or out of place. It is a timeless, awesome track, boding well for the modern-day coffee shop. Civil Twilight can get away with this in the same way that Muse can get away with sounding like Queen: excellent song writing while evoking a style which doesn't duplicate an older band’s sound, but instead pays homage to it and expands the formula.

“Soldier” is an excellent choice for a first single, as the band finds itself channeling their inner Coldplay. It begins with some high-pitched guitar chords before exploding into a crunchy, heavy punk riff. The song is political but never preachy. The lyrics share the perspective of a man who has a big family and a wife, who feels that he is off in a land he doesn't belong in, fighting a war for someone he has never met. There's a lot of truth to it, and if you know someone who has served or is currently in service, you may find yourself choking up a little. Of course, anti-war music is nothing new, but putting the voice in the perspective of a soldier creates a stronger impact. Being a good song also helps.



“Letters From The Sky” could have been included on the Radiohead album The Bends. It begins with quiet piano, and during the chorus, Steven’s voice elevates in the same manner that Tom Yorke's does during “High and Dry.” But again, the songwriting is so excellent that it seems to elaborate upon the devices of great songs rather than mimic them.

“Human” doesn't sound anything like The Killers at all. Civil Twilight sticks to minimalism, using only piano and vocals, both of which sound like they're on the verge of bursting into tears. The fact that the mood is so quiet and lonely while not being melodramatic is a testament to how well the band can craft a song from the ground up. This leads into “Perfect Stranger,” another quiet track where the bass line is dominant and the electric guitar is reduced to background ambiance. The song could fit in with an 80’s cops-and-robbers television show; the images of nightlife and Miami Beach comes to mind. Pick up a Mojito and a cigar and you'll do just fine.

My personal favorite is the album closer, “Quiet In My Town.” If a sexy person whispering in your ear could be translated into song form, it would sound like this. Like the best constructed music, it builds to a thrilling climax. The first 4 1/2 minutes have quiet vocals and an airy guitar string on repeat, so when drums are finally folded into the mix, the sound becomes greater and rewarding. (It sent chills down my back.) I left the album singing: “today is -- today is -- today is quiet in my town…” That’s the sign of a very good record: one that forces its impact with you on the way out, leaving you eager to listen to everything all over again.

The 411: Civil Twilight may not be the most innovative or original band -- they resemble other big acts that have been around for decades. But they aren't here to change the face of music. They're not going to "wow" you with originality. They're simply here to make a good album with catchy rock songs, and in that regard, they have succeeded ten-fold. I enjoyed every song. I think -- with enough time -- they will build a loyal fan base, become a great live band, and record their masterpiece.

Final Score:  8.5   [ Very Good ]