Yahoo! Music Review

Released on 4/04/08
Label: Island

Suicidal gunmen and the mass murder of innocent children aren't usually the stuff of MOR pop songs, and for good reason. Three saccharine minutes of condescending weepiness is not likely to help, is it? Inspired by the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre, "Without You" treads a difficult line with more grace and effect than most, no doubt because the band were there at the time and had the unpleasant task of playing their jolly sing-alongs to a shocked North Virginia audience hours after five staff and 27 students were shot and killed at the school.

In the unlikely event that anyone remains unconvinced of singer-songwriter Dan Gillespie Sells's gift, the lightness of "Without You"'s touch should be all the confirmation needed that he's at the very least a modern McCartney. A love song which smiles while imagining the worst, the deft mix of mid-tempo sweetness and flooring pathos will make it a staple of the break-up mixtape for many years to come. Also, top marks to The Feeling for side-stepping the condescending weepiness.

    by Dan Gennoe