Benzos's debut is the type of album that draws heavily upon heralded mainstream acts from both past and present and likewise manages to add a little something extra to balance out the originality and inspiration. Morning Stanzos is a crafty disc combining light doses of post-punk mixed with indie pop and college rock, awash in atmospheric synthesizers and strong lead vocals, all viewed through a bizzarrely melancholic filter. But as the record progresses, Benzos goes awry; the band seems to become rather directionless, whereas their initial intentions seem in place and rightfully focused.

Lead vocalist Christian Celaya somehow manages to ape Bono, Morrissey, and Coldplay's Chris Martin all at separate times, though he also happens to have an occasionally original inflection, and his range is astounding considering. Musically, it's around the same territory. The band often draws from 80's-era U2, especially on tracks like "You're Forever An Hourglass," which could've been a 1980-1990 B-Sides cut, and "Mechanical Comrades." The band does add touches of more modern sounds though, like the programmed drums in abrupt closer "Spins," and the Britpop/Coldplay influence creeps up in one of the only strong second half tracks in "Ideal Magnet." Thankfully, it prevents the record from trendy attempts at retroizing the sound, as the band is usually lushly filling a track with light brushes of acoustics and careful loops.

Several of the disc's songs get fairly noodly with Benzos's technique and thus somewhat boring, though. "It's Amiable" is an early, down-tempo track that seems displaced and out of reach, and it's a disappointing followup to its two previous, swiftly-moving tracks. The record can't seem to quite catch its footing afterwards. "Warm Road" starts off with a few nice hooks in its early and later parts, but it's sandwiched by a shoegazing bridge that doesn't seem to quite build towards the climax it's seemingly attempting. Mid-album offering "The Blue Around You" picks things up a bit with its tranced, drunken lingering and efficient use of Celaya's superb tenor, and "Mechanical Comrades" is a solid offering, but the second half mostly stumbles as it tries to get up, especially with the incomprehensible wailing in "Sore Eyes."

Benzos seems at their best when they're luring in the listener with their fluid mix of subtle hooks and pop atmospherics, but Morning Stanzos too often finds the band leaning heavily on the latter with a more detached vocal front leading it. Sure, the band is able to bring the vibe of Western European mainstream rock to their New York based-constructions nicely, but apparently, several traits were dropped in the pond along the way.

MP3s
It's Amiable
Glass Souls