2008
High Dive
About This Album
While two members of Portland's Little Beirut (Hamilton Sims and Edwin Paroissien) recorded an album in 2005, High Dive serves as the official debut of a group rounded out by drummer Alex Inman and bassist Jon Trause. The band's name derives from a stray comment from George H.W. Bush while visiting Portland during his presidency; greeted by massive protests, he called the city "Little Beirut." Little Beirut, however, never sound as though they are under siege (or laying siege) on High Dive. The record, with high-flying harmonies and beguiling melodies, delivers pop with a heavier rock underpinning, creating a nice balance. Sticking with pop tradition, the band smartly keeps most of these songs at around three minutes, and the vocals, by Sims and Paroissien, are the glue that holds it all together. High Dive also maintains interest by varying arrangements (partly with the help of a number of guests) and tempos, from the spare, mellow "Love During Wartime" (no less than a pop song about the George W. Bush-era "war on terrorism" and Condoleezza Rice) to the harder, more progressive "She's a Martyr." Little Beirut should find a comfortable spot on AAA radio, mixing well with the music of bands like Coldplay. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., All Music Guide
Track List (try tracks 1,3,5,8 and 11)

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