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Longview's 2003 debut album Mercury was released to varying degrees of applause from the music press and it certainly hailed them as vaguely interesting, "to keep your eye on", indie rockers.
However this, the third single from the said LP, does little to fuel that interest. The multi-tracked opening guitars and stock string section that heaves with melodrama leads into a vocal of very little excitement. The anthemic chorus, despite the lovely lush harmonies, shouts that feel-good dross factor too loud and clear, and despite its vague prettiness, it is anachronistic.
Classically trained guitarist and singer Rob McVey aspires to produce the rock melancholy at which Radiohead excel, and certainly the influence is hinted at, but this single places them far away from this tradition. There's none of the intrigue or passion that McVey should be swimming in with his knowledge of guitar greats Villa Lobos and Giuliani, and the affected "beauty" is replication. It's just been so done, and Coldplay are already one too many.
BUY Longview - Still (CD)
BUY Longview - Still (DVD)
Long-View 
Long-View - Subversions
Longview - Mercury
Long-View - Further
Longview - Coming Down/When You Sleep
Longview - In A Dream
Longview - Stripped
Longview - Can't Explain
Longview @ University of London
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