With their 2007 debut,
Locksley kept one foot in the present while looking to the past -- specifically the British Invasion of the '60s -- for inspiration. Released in 2010,
Be in Love finds the band returning to that familiar intersection of latter-day appeal and vintage melody, even if the songs here are more modern than the band’s early work. The most contemporary tunes are pushed to the top of the track list, where “Love You Too” and “Darling, It’s True” exhibit more in common with
Hot Hot Heat and
the Strokes than anyone from the previous century.
Locksley’s '60s state of mind returns as the album progresses, though, eventually peaking during side B with “Down for Too Long” and “The Way That We Go.” Taking a page from bands like
the Hollies and
the Beatles,
Locksley also pay special attention to their vocals, with each member writing his own material and singing lead on several tracks. Newcomer Jordan Laz, who replaced bassist Adam Collins in 2008, pulls his weight fairly easily, contributing three songs to the mix and adding a rough-and-tumble
Stonesy swagger to his vocal performances. The best moments, though, come whenever the musicians throw their vocal strengths into the same heap, resulting in the sort of harmony-laden material that, while still reminiscent of
Locksley's retro influences, also puts them into the same category as current acts like
Sloan. ~ Andrew Leahey