Honey's Three is one of those all-too-rare 'love life soundtrack' albums. While Dashboard Confessional's albums are soundtracks to a tortured love life, and Further Seems Forever's album is a soundtrack to a long-distance love life, Three is a soundtrack to a wistful, longing, romantic love life.
"Catherine Before" watches a girl "walk to work" and tries to get up the nerve to talk to her. "My Cinderella" falls into clichéd territory in the first verse, but redeems itself with a strong chorus. "Valentine" poses the dichotomy "I know you want to fall apart / I know you want to be in love" and weaves the two themes together. "Missing You" whispers "something small / a sparkle reminds me of you." And "Angel Song" boasts the best lyric on the album, as vocalist Doug Moss sings "I still see you / your eyes shine through the pouring rain / I still love you / your eyes just shine for someone else."
One song that doesn't directly deal with relationships is the closer, "Siesta." With its plaintive refrain of "I wish I was older," "Siesta" strikes a chord for anybody who's ever yearned for adulthood.
Honey manages to be both alternative and hooky, which few bands can pull off. The hooks on "Ride" and "Inside" will be stuck in your head for weeks. As a matter of fact, just about every one of the eleven songs on Three has an identifiable hook.
Musically, Honey creates a lush bed of guitars and soft keyboard touches. Imagine a turned-down Plankeye or an up-tempo Starflyer. Three is a woefully overlooked album that deserves to be remembered as an alt-pop classic. Recommended for anybody who's ever been dumped or who likes good music.
4.5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #93Reviewed by Jason DoddHoney's third LP does not arrive as unexpectedly as did The Inbetween Time, from fellow 90s Christian alt-rockers, Common Children, but it does bear a similar surprise. That being an expanded, lush melodic sensibility that helps their songs break from the droning fuzz of their Sublime debut. They are now closer kin to Matthew Sweet, James Taylor, and early Radiohead than Hum. Some songs dip into…Similar sounding releases
2004The Only ChildrenChange of Living
Common HeroesThe Robin Sings
1995Matthew Sweet100% Fun
2000The Grapes of WrathField Trip
2002Sunday's BestThe Californian
2004The Honorary TitleAnything Else But The Truth
