The Last Broadcast

1	Intro 1:17
2	Words 5:42
3	There Goes the Fear 6:54
4	M62 Song 3:48
5	Where We're Calling From 1:24
6	N.Y. 5:46
7	Satellites 6:50
8	Friday's Dust 3:35
9	Pounding 4:45
10	Last Broadcast 3:22
11	The Sulphur Man 4:37
12	Caught by the River 5:55

Barnes & Noble

Often dismissed as purveyors of Britpop sweetness, Doves actually have plenty of sonic tricks up their collective sleeve -- many more of which are unsheathed here than on their promising debut, 2000's Lost Souls. While still capable of conjuring up vivid atmospherics with simple acoustic melodies and the plaintive tenor of singer Jimi Goodwin, this time around the Manchester-based combo seem intent on exploring the headier reaches of guitar rock, as evidenced by the soaring, Verve-like "Words" and the sinewy "N.Y." Like many of their hometown predecessors -- from Joy Division onward -- Doves don't accentuate the positive very often: Here, Goodwin offers a chilling take on mental illness on "There Goes the Fear," compounding the sensory unease with a breezy dance-floor rhythm. And just to confuse matters even more, the band tips its hat to prog-rock godfathers King Crimson, reworking that band's "Moonchild" under the new title "M62 Song." There's no denying the beauty of The Last Broadcast, but don't tune in expecting just another bunch of pretty sounds -- in fact, you'll find that and a whole lot more. David Sprague

All Music Guide

When Doves issued Lost Souls in fall 2000, Britpop was immersed in its melodic gloom-and-doom era, ushered in by the success of Radiohead. The likes of Coldplay, Travis, Elbow, and Starsailor followed in their wake, as did Doves. What separated Doves from the rest was a glint of passion, evident on their 2000 debut, Lost Souls. Two years later, the atmospheric dreamscapes of Lost Souls were torn asunder for the musical daybreak of The Last Broadcast. As it turns out, the psychedelic vibrancy of "Catch the Sun," the brightest track on the album, pointed toward this brave second record. Gone are the hazy space rock trips and the cheerless attitudes; Doves are on the sunny side of the street for The Last Broadcast. The seven-minute sonic boom of "There Goes the Fear" finds Jimi Goodwin sharing vocals with Jez and Andy Williams for a glorious chorus. Each of them switches up vocal duties throughout, lending a joyous feel to the album itself. From the bold front of "Words" to the fiery momentum of "Pounding," The Last Broadcast shows a refreshing rawness that was absent before. The High Llamas' Sean O'Hagan delivers sweeping orchestral arrangements for the sublime "Friday's Dust," while the electronic dewdrops of "The Sulphur Man" push Doves' divine ambience further to the front.Doves were caught up in making grand compositions on Lost Souls, which worked fabulously, but it was too much. They've stripped down to the basics, letting the optimism of The Last Broadcast take center stage. It's a brilliant moment. MacKenzie Wilson

Mojo

Last Broadcast is visceral, pulsing, uplifting, widescreen.... Songs burst with ideas. David Peschek

NME

'The Last Broadcast' feels like when Radiohead moved from 'Pablo Honey' to 'The Bends'. It's a quantum leap for Doves, an album that compresses all the band's myriad influences and experiences into one magnificent musical document. Echoes of The Smiths, Joy Division, Spiritualized, My Bloody Valentine and the Haçienda club can all be found here, and put together the whole thing sounds incredible. James Oldham