I recently downloaded Chelsea Diaries from Dead Heart Bloom based on a Pitchfork review. I wasn’t at all familiar with the group, but the eMusic sound clips revealed a nice pop group that seemed to have promise. Pretty short album with only 8 tracks, but one that I’ve grown to like very much.

I don’t know if it is intentional or not, but I can’t help think Beatles when I listen to this album. Particularly during the first song. Something about the harmonies and sound that gives me the Beatles feel. Not that creepie, ‘oh my god they’re trying to be the Beatles’ feel, but the feeling you get when it works well.

Opening track is Who Will You Love, but chorus line it comes from is ‘Who will you love when you’re gone’. Kind of changes the feel of the song right away. Wonderful track that could have easily been on Revolver. Same with the second track, Chelsea Song #2. Definitely a different feel, but still in that Beatles rock think going. Should add that they have a keyboard, even though the fab four did not, but it still has the feel.

After a couple of very nice, but nondescript tracks (that I never skip) comes the next jewel, a ballad called Someday Soon Our Time Will Come. Beautiful vocals over an acoustic guitar. Nothing more complex than that, but the vocals are gorgeous. I’d buy the entire album for this track alone.

Wish It Well continues in the same vein, staying in what I would call an alt country kind of feel. eMusic tags the entire album as Rock, but who knows what that actually means.

Bottom line is I really love this album. I don’t know how much staying power it will have in my library, but I will definitely include it on my exported playlist at work. Buy and enjoy.