This is the band’s second album and has met with some pretty mixed reviews, with the main complaint being its contemplative, dark ambience. It really puzzles me that a serious but highly accessible album hasn’t met with unanimous acclaim…

Anyone who has seen the Editors perform live knows that it’s one of the best around. But every act, regardless of quality, needs good songs; like a good chef needs great ingredients. The band has chosen to follow-up their first album with one that reflects our times, our fears, our hopes. It’s what most great music is really all about. The opening track, ‘Smokers Outside The Hospital Doors,’ is an observational song par excellence, made memorable by great lyrics, melody, instrumentals and vocal. If ever there was an anthem for our times, this is it. The soaring vibe of ‘An End Has A Start’ is a nice follow-up with its strident guitars, drums and vocal, underpinned by a fine melody and lyrics. And that’s really the story of this album; I could describe every song in the same manner. ‘The Weight Of The World’ contrasts a bass ambience with shrill guitar riffs and a beautifully, calm, expressive Tom Smith Vocal. The vibe is deeply moving with lyrics that echo the potential to go beyond the material: “Every little piece of your heart will mean something to someone.” ‘Bones’ is song that climbs mountains with pace and soaring choruses, while the mournful tones of ‘When Anger Shows’ stops me in my tracks. To top it all the final piano-backed ‘Well Worn Hand’ is compelling in its simple, stripped-down beauty and powerful lyrics that hark back to recent events on our city streets: “I don’t want to go out on my own any more/I can’t face the night like I used to before/I’m so sorry for the things that they’ve done/I’m so sorry for what we have become.”

The band deserves praise for tackling some of the problems of our times in a way that’s accessible, believable and sincere. Make no mistake, this is an excellent and moving album.

4/5