Watashi Wa - Eager Seas

[Gabe Gross]

Watashi Wa – Eager Seas
Tooth & Nail Records
Release Date: January 24, 2006


Watashi Wa may very well be your favorite band you choose to ignore. While I have never been a heavy listener of the Seth Roberts-driven SoCal foursome, Eager Seas has somewhat changed my perspective on who they are and who they might be in the future. Dedicated fans hoping for another The Love of Life, you won’t be disappointed. Eager Seas assumes a fraternal identity.

Since Lifehouse’s freshman release, No Name Face and Switchfoot’s The Beautiful Letdown, seldom bands have been able to replicate the compelling and passionate pop-rock fevers as Eager Seas does. With that, I add them to the list. With the ability to diverge from song to song, in and out of melodies, harmonies and tempos, album cohesiveness is rarely interrupted (as noticed with “Face” and “Free Ride”). But don’t convince yourself that Eager Seas is can stand the length of time. The replayability of this album draws weak and the more and more I paid attention to the album, the more and more I felt I was listening to another Switchfoot album.

As far as the tracklisting, my attention wasn’t fully caught until the second track (most usually I fall accustomed to loving the first track) and “Face” isn’t your standard love song. Rather, Seth points to the revisited brother-sister relationship and while the lyrics aren’t the strongest Seth’s voice is shows more promise on this track than any other Watashi Wa song. Next, being a sucker for the harmonica, “Courtyard” courts me into a melodic me into a leveled soft rock track that lathers the eardrums. This song is one of the most beautiful on Eager Seas. Although at points, Roberts’ voice doesn’t stay consistent, breaking the point at which production cannot cover up (early in “2:57”). Whether I’m a music snob or not, I tend to pay close attention to the chords being in unity with vocals—very meticulously—albeit “2:57” is a building and breaching ballad, supported by a powerful piano. Then we have “Sydney Tonight” which feels like the exact same song as “2:57”, besides guitars being more apparent.

If you didn’t catch the last album, “All Of Me”, fills another track on Eager Seas and will undoubtedly be on a) an episode of Laguna Beach, b) your sister’s teenage summer love anthem or c) you will fall madly in love with it, making it the first track on your girlfriend’s anniversary mixtape. I’m still at ends whether this song is good because it’s good or good because of the chocolaty lyrics, syrupy hooks and caramelized vocals—gun to head?—the latter and sweeter choice. But if Watashi Wa had any face to save on Eager Seas, “Father, Son” would be the track to point everyone to. It plays the yin to “All Of Me”s yang. With twang and country folk roots, a two-story vocal chorus and plenty of instrumental time to showcase (and clap along—if you like) suited for the best of fathers.

Despite a level of bland musicianship, Watashi Wa wrap a successful album up. Unfortunately, the lasting quality of Eager Seas is draped in a simple 45 minutes. While talent, in both instruments and vocals are presented well, the two do not mesh for something monumental. Rather, Eager Seas will be just another résumé spot for Seth Roberts.

[albatrossxivy]

i give it a 75
it was a good release
but needed more slow tracks like
the old released tracks from eager seas
it should have been under the
assumed name EAGER SEAS
instead of watashi wa.

-jason

[steve-0]

This album is like 2 separate EPs. Theres the slower, more melodic, more melancholic songs that are awesome. 10 years and Separating States is a fantastic song. Then there are a bunch of fast songs which seem so out of place. I dont know why they did that. The slower songs are so much better

[albatrossxivy]

This album is like 2 separate EPs. Theres the slower, more melodic, more melancholic songs that are awesome. 10 years and Separating States is a fantastic song. Then there are a bunch of fast songs which seem so out of place. I dont know why they did that. The slower songs are so much better

i agree

[FstFtsVsFences]

I really enjoy this album, although I've loved pretty much everything I've heard by Seth in either Watashi Wa or Eager Seas.

[Loch_Doun]

i enjoy this cd

[kittypants]

i'd give it an 80. and i don't really consider this a watashi wa album..since seth had called it Eager Seas - People Like People for tooth and nail decided to market the album under a proven artist name.

[Gabe Gross]

i'd give it an 80. and i don't really consider this a watashi wa album..since seth had called it Eager Seas - People Like People for tooth and nail decided to market the album under a proven artist name.

agreed.

it was more like... Seth Roberts and Some Other Guys - The Seth Roberts Show

[satanisanerd]

I'd rate this album alot higher than what was given. This is a phenomonal album.

[emaxspyxd]

agreed.

it was more like... Seth Roberts and Some Other Guys - The Seth Roberts Show

Yeah for sure, those other guys being Yuri Ruley and Mike Herrera of MxPx... ;)

If you didn't know read your inset booklets. Mike and Yuri did alot of percussion, bass, and backup vocals on this cd. That of course makes me love it even more being that Mxpx is my favorite band.

I think the review should have been a lot higher, but then again, I am very easy on bands.

[Aileen]

I'd rate this album alot higher than what was given. This is a phenomonal album.
agreed. seth is an amazing talent.

[Gabe Gross]

agreed. seth is an amazing talent.

i agree he is talented but seriously...his voice is not original.

coughswitchfootcough

[weworemasks]

i agree he is talented but seriously...his voice is not original.

coughswitchfootcough

finally. i always wondered who he sounds identical to.

[EveryNewDay]

i respect your review, but i feel you were kind of harsh. the lyrics on this album are some of the best i've ever heard and the way seth paints the listener a picture with his words is quite impressive. as far as the instrumentation, i agree its nothing special, but it fits the songs well and does it's job better than you give credit for. lastly, seth may sound similar to jon foreman of switchfoot, but watashi wa/eager seas came out before switchfoot did and personally i think seth's voice is better.

[opentheharbors]

switchfoot? wow. i really think that's an incorrect comparison. i find seth's voice to come across much more raw sounding, and definately in a different style of vocal arrangement. it makes me sad to read that people think his voice is unoriginal.

but as far as this album, i was put off at first by the more upbeat songs. even though i liked them alot, they seemed to break the flow of the album (at first). but now that i've given the album a good number of solid listen-throughs, i am much more on board with the faster songs and their placement (besides the unfortunate re-release of "all of me". great song, but does NOT fit on this album for so many reasons. why, t&n, why?). but as many have already pointed out, the slower songs are the highlights here. mister roberts shines as a wonderful and talented songwriter.

but in reply to the review proper up above, i think it's sort of unfair to compare this against the other watashi wa albums. it seems from everything i've read that seth & co. were really trying to break away from their established sound and try a new thing. a completely new band. i feel dirty even calling this album a watashi wa album, because i know that wasn't the intention of the creators. sigh. oh well. yet another notch in the belt of t&n's recent string of bad decisions (not aggressively pushing great acts like discover america and eager seas, yet bombarding us with dull and uninspiring stuff like sullivan and far-less). what used to be one of my favorite labels keeps screwing over their good artists and lifting up their bad.

[ofelectronicage]

I don't think the comparison to Switchfoot is a good one at all. Both in terms of sound and writing style Seth and Jon differ greatly. I used to be a huge Switchfoot fan and have been turned off lately by their newest CD and the sound they're leaning towards. I don't hear any of that new Switchfoot sound that I dislike coming from Seth's latest effort.

I give it a 85%

[USAFDave]

this record is great.

how is someones voice original? you can say that they sound like eachother, but its their VOICES, they didnt get to pick them.

ive been listening to both switchfoot and watashi wa for a good 6 years or so, and i have never thought they were similar.

[opentheharbors]

they way they choose to sing or convey their voices is what can make their vocals original. look at coheed and cambria or something like that. he can probably sing in a different way, but he chooses to do it like that. and also, the style of melodies they choose to put to the music. compare vocals from someone like saves the day to... i don't know. limbeck. definately different styles. anyway, that's what i think.

[andrewEP]

www.emotionalpunk.com/watashiwa

[Gabe Gross]

but watashi wa/eager seas came out before switchfoot did and personally i think seth's voice is better.
- watashi wa's first album came out june 2003 (the love of life)

- switchfoot's first album came out june 1997 (the legend of chin)


sorry bro, but six years is quite a difference. switchfoot have been around forever. sooooo i think im correct on seth being unoriginal in his vocals

oh and also...watashi wa is out of San Luis Obispo, CA

switchfoot is out of San Diego, CA

that is a wicked conincidence...yes?

[xXrunninglateXx]

- watashi wa's first album came out june 2003 (the love of life)

- switchfoot's first album came out june 1997 (the legend of chin)


sorry bro, but six years is quite a difference. switchfoot have been around forever. sooooo i think im correct on seth being unoriginal in his vocals

oh and also...watashi wa is out of San Luis Obispo, CA

switchfoot is out of San Diego, CA

that is a wicked conincidence...yes?

ACTUALLY, do your homework and Watashi Wa had a few releases before Love of Life which makes that gap between original release much smaller. And so what if their vocies sound the same, there are a lot of people that you could compare others to but that doesn't mean they are copying their voice. Plus San Luis Obispo and San Diego are no where near each other geographically or the vibe of the cities. Don't just throw something in there like that if it doesn't hold water. Anyway, this album was never a Watashi Wa album. It was Seth writing about things very personal going on his his life. Each song has to do with a tough time after the breakup of Watashi Wa. It may be that because I found out a lot about this record through a great interview over at www.emotionalpunk.com but I have such a huge respect for this ablum and what he did with this album. You should really read it and it'll give you a great appreciation for this album and Seth.

[ultraviolet]

I had to post because I just don't understand this switchfoot comparison, or the "unoriginal" comment for that matter... I mean, the actual tone of his voice is PRETTY different. I know that they have similarities when it comes to their natural habits of writing/melodies, but I think that's about it. and THAT is a coincidence, because i know seth's major influences and switchfoot isn't one of them. we both like switchfoot, they're a great band, but seth sings the way he sings because it's his voice. have you heard him talk? to me there's nothing worse than a signer that's trying to sing in a voice that isn't naturally theirs... so, gabe, who do you think has an original voice? (not trying to be an ass)

[promiseoftrust]

I've never really thought Seth and Jon's voices were similar. Now that the comparison was pointed out, I can see some similarities, but that's like saying Mew's singer and Sigur Ros' singer sound exactly the same. They may be similar style, but I can still distinguish them.

If you want me to be specific, I think Seth has a more youthful energy in his voice, which obviously makes sense since he's younger (I think?)

[Caleb Cattivera]

i would've gave it higher. not too bad of a review though.

[Mitch]

Shitty review

(Well-written, but I just disagree with your overall opinion of the album).

[opentheharbors]

not to be mean, but i feel a little let down and worried when the reviewer calls a band's third album their first. :\ i would have expected a little research. plus, just flat out saying "that dude's voice is unoriginal" and not really going into much further detail or providing specific examples is kind of a weak argument. also, i don't think it's fair when people accuse bands of being copycats based on where they're from. especially when they're actually 5 hours away from each other in such a diverse state as california.