Doves: The Last Broadcast : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

On their last record, Doves loomed up like part of the latest swell of British bummer bands that began with Radiohead. But The Last Broadcast starts, musically at least, on a glittering note: "Words" is all rippling sunbursts of guitar and ringing bells. The chorus runs, "Words -- they mean nothing, so you can't hurt me"; the overall effect is one of bright defiance. "Friday's Dust" is a beautiful bring-down, especially when a clarinet rises up out of the sensitively plucked acoustic chords as a haunting synth tinges the horizon. Singer Jimi Goodwin is all elegant, grainy British accent; Jez Williams' guitar playing is always pretty and liquid; and drummer Andy Williams drops in a secret weapon: a cherubic backing vocal that adds a touch of surreality to these immaculately grounded tunes. They make tremendously consoling music, in an autumnal sort of way. Last Broadcast is nearly as comforting as the return of cool weather after the summer and as poignant as the tiny regret that you feel when you know the cold is coming. If you're into that sort of thing.

PAT BLASHILL
(RS 898 - June 20, 2002)