Picking up their name from an off-hand slight from former President George H.W. Bush, who called Portland “Little Beirut” after a visit to the city was met with massive protests, the four-piece is not what you might expect from the center of the Indie Rock universe.“One of the things I tell people when I give them the album is to expect it to be a pretty big fat pop record, because that’s something that stands out here,” says Sims. “We’re not avant garde, we’re not trying to weird you out.” Yes, Fear of Heaven is a big fat pop record…in the best way. Lush with melodies and choruses you can sing along to in your car, Little Beirut’s third album shows a band coming into its own. More raw and direct than 2008’s critically acclaimed High Dive, there’s a swagger and confidence in its embrace of the elements that make you remember the song, not simply name check the influences. The Posies-esque guitar drive and Nada Surf reminiscent harmonies that marked the last effort have not been ditched, but the orchestration has been stripped down here making a confident statement and allowing the songs to shine through. It’s clear from the first track that Little Beirut has built their foundation on a respect for the bands that elevated pop music beyond what’s merely popular. These are songwriters who grew up on college radio listening to REM and the Smiths, and Fear of Heaven is filled with gorgeous potential hits devoid of any sense of irony or apology for what they are.
Connect with Little Beirut:
+ Artist Website: www.littlebeirut.com
+ Contact: Ryan Wines | ryan@petmarmoset.com | 541.981.0003
