Aereogramme

My Heart Has a Wish That You Would Not Go (Sonic Unyon)

By Anne C. Johnson
Published: March 4th, 2007 | 11:52am

The apt, very rambling title of this album comes from an unlikely source, William Peter Blatty’s The Exorcist, and it was chosen because it echoed the band’s mind-set before recording. There are moments of absolute splendor on Aereogramme’s third full-length, but this title could also refer to the band’s reluctance to put an end to many of their songs.

This sensitive and introspective work is filled with more than its fair share of beauty, but as Aereogramme’s own Craig B. correctly remarks, you must be “a master of patience” to put up with him (“You’re Always Welcome”). The album utterly exudes an earnestness that could melt even the most cynical of hearts, and this is especially true of the terrific tear-jerker “Exits.” The trouble with My Heart is that most of the overlong songs begin to sound alike and form an indistinguishable block of music. Repeating the same lyrics over and over (and over and over) does not always have to be an egregious sin, but this happens in far too many songs. The result is not only indulgent, but just plainly reeks of lazy song crafting. The oh-so dramatic musical effects, particularly the piano and strings, are overused and often arranged in the same swelling, sweeping way that is actually manipulative and almost negates all the beauty and passion.

To Aereogramme’s credit, the tone is consistent throughout. How could it not be? Unfortunately, when the tempo and instrumentation does finally switch up on “Running Man,” the effect is jarring and incongruous and quite frankly, too late.