Haven - 'All For A Reason' (Radiate)
2/5
By: Kari Wynn
It seems somewhat unjust to take a swipe at Haven. Not only saddled with the responsibility of notching up the jollies in their 'difficult' sophomore album to debut-LP, the 150,000-selling 'Between The Senses', but in early 2003 founding member and guitarist, Nat Wason, was diagnosed with Bells Palsy, a rare and debilitating muscle disorder. It's enough to make any other young band throw the towel in and crawl into a bottle of Jack Daniel's, but Nat began the slow road to recovery and the band reconvened in late 2003 to put the finishing touches on 'All For A Reason'. It's the kind of underdog story that you wished had a happy ending with the band riding high on 'Top of the Pops' and a polite row of willing groupies - but, unfortunately, this ain't likely to form the case.
Though they most assuredly didn't set out to do so, on their second album, Haven have created a genre to rival Ocean Colour Scene: MumRock. That mushy pap of totally inoffensive, polite MOR-style music that wouldn't be out of place plodding along in the background of an earnest-looking character on 'Dawson's Creek' or 'Beverly Hills 90210' (for the elders amongst us). Music that your Mum might have purchased for you on some substandard soundtrack for your birthday, thinking that her baby might, for just a moment, listen to something she likes and turn down the Megadeth. Music that makes you want to put your head in a vice and turn until you snap your own neck. To add insult to shameful disappointment, guitar hero Johnny Marr not only produced the album in its entirety, but painfully also lent his lyrical stylings to tracks 'Have No Fear' and 'The First Time'. Though one might hope this air of credibility might possibly be a potential saviour in a sea of discontent, it's a little too much to hope for.
While generally chock-full-of pensive splendour, 'All For A Reason' is not without its occasional high points. Single 'Wouldn't Change A Thing' sounds strikingly like those Starsailor singles released earlier this year that everyone liked but was ashamed to admit - all full of twinkly, sort-of-Spector-ish charm. 'Change Direction' has the feel of a serviceable Oasis standby without the balls, and 'What Love Is' features genuinely commendable, driving guitar-work. There are others, but as a whole it's just too few and too far between.
It's terribly regrettable, but sadly these struggling underdogs just haven't cut it this time.
Artists in this article: Haven
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