Beat Beat Heartbeat

They Say...

Review by Heather Phares, All Music Guide

On their debut, Beat Beat Heartbeat, the Natural History prove that they could be the poster boys for their label, Star Time Records: They find creative uses for their back-to-basics guitar, drums, and basslineup, and their songs are full of tough but sensitive melodies like their labelmates, the Walkmen and the French Kicks. However, Max Tepper's deep, raspy vocals and angular guitar hooks also make the Natural History sound a lot like Spoon, so much so that on the first few spins of Beat Beat Heartbeat, it's hard to shake the feeling that the album isn't actually a mislabeled collection of that band's demos; indeed, the slightly buried quality of Tepper's singing and the rough-around-the-edges production only emphasize the songs' somewhat unfinished feel. After a while, though, the Natural History's own personality reveals itself, and in many ways the band is even more orthodox in its late-'70s/early-'80s new wave and post-punk hero worship than its contemporaries -- "Watch This House" sounds even more like a song that Elvis Costello never got around to writing than anything off of Girls Can Tell, Kill the Moonlight, or One Time Bells does. Songs like "Facts Are," "Broken Language," and "Telling Lies Will Get You Nowhere" show that the band can craft sharp, angular rock that nearly rivals its contemporaries and influences, even if it's not quite as distinctive, but there are also many moments that suggest the Natural History will eventually deliver something more unique. "The Right Hand" alternates between their usual choppy attack and shimmering, high-strung guitars that seem more inspired by Television than Costello, XTC, or the other influences that pepper Beat Beat Heartbeat. The spare, slightly ominous approach the band takes on the title track also shows promise, as does the elastic, almost soulful finale, "Dance Steps," but the best track by far is "Run de Run," which features doo wop-inspired backing vocals and somehow also manages to sound like Eddie Money's "Baby Hold Onto Me" -- in a good way (yes, this is possible). So, even though Beat Beat Heartbeat isn't a knockout debut, it is a promising one, introducing an assured, economical sound that can only get better.