Triangulated somewhere between earnest Britpop in the
Coldplay or
Keane mold,
the Shins' indie pop suss, and
Death Cab for Cutie's angst, the second album by Oregon quintet
Crosstide is a great leap forward from their well-meaning but derivative debut. The group's songwriting has matured considerably, with stronger melodies and a knack for powerful, surging choruses. Although singer
Bret Vogel has a somewhat anonymous voice, he also lacks the irritating affectations of many young indie singers with an emo background. More importantly, the band understands the importance of dynamics both within songs and over the course of an album as a whole, which keeps
Life as a Spectator sounding varied and appealing throughout. The only thing the album lacks is one truly outstanding breakthrough song.