It turns out the old saying is true: The family that plays together, stays together. Four siblings and their best pal make up indiepop group Eisley, whose debut EPs hinted at what they could do. And "Room Noises" certainly proves that their airy, whimsical pop was worth the long wait for.

Some of the songs are from those EPs, although they sound a bit tighter and smoother. For example, the heartbreaking ode to the bullied, "Telescope Eyes," or the prettily whimsical "Marvelous Things." Despite the airy poesy of the songs, there's a distinctly melancholy streak through the album, which peaks at the very beginning: "Memories," a haunting song about a woman mourning her husband's suicide.

Despite a few EP songs, they also have quite a few new songs, like the enchantingly sunny "Golly Sandra," which has echoes of the Beach Boys. But the sparkling pop vibe continues in other songs, carried over in piano melodies and smooth guitar riffs. "Still floating soft/I am dreaming and I'm glad I lost/And still with my fingers/I'm drawing circles in the water," the song goes, as fluid as the water it talks about.

That mixture of bittersweetness and innocent optimism is what makes Eisley so darn appealing. Nowhere are the stereotypical I-just-wanna-have-fun or my-boy/girlfriend-dumped-me-and-now-I-wanna-swim-with-the-toaster music for THIS pop band. While they have some love songs, the emphasis is on their enchanting kind of whimsy.

That whimsy carries over into just about whatever they sing about, whether it's Sherri and Staci singing about dragons in the woods, sunlight and butterflies, or metal teeth and "telescope eyes." Some of the lyrics seem to stray into Flaming Lips-type surrealism, but are also grounded by simple sentiments like, "You have shining eyes, yes like those forest lights, and it makes me want to cry."

After the past few years, with the group rapidly moving out of the teen bracket, one would wonder if Stacy and Sherri Dupree's angelic vocals would have gotten... well, not so pretty. No problem with that -- they sound a bit like younger versions of Beth Gibbons or perhaps Hope Sandoval. The two girls even interplay their vocals in on song, with remarkable skill and spine-tingling results.

At the start of one song, the line "Congratulations, we've finally made it" is sung. And so Eisley has -- and this promising band only shows signs of getting even better in albums to come.

What a great Indie band! they are from my home town and I have met the members on multiple occasions. However, though I love the new album, I feel that they have been a bit screwed over by the studo. The songs that made their indie career are now completely over-produced, many of them spen up beyond belief (Like Telescope Eyes, which used to be nicely mellow yet driving, is now just fast). Also, the music has lost a bit of its genuine lo-fi indie endearing quality. The music is no less amazing than it was, but I believe that the EPs are a must for anyone truely wanting to enjoy Eisley.

The producers were here alright, most obviously on their 4 songs that were released on the earlier EPs. Production is not bad, but the attempts to make Eisley's music more accessible, less eclectic, and catchier worked. The music will never be entirely mainstream radio-friendly, but on some tracks, the producers were unsubtly pushing in that direction. I would buy both EPs ("Marvelous Things" and "Laughing City") in addition to this album, if you want the rawer versions.

Lyrics filled with fantastical imagery, such as magical woods, mermaids, butterflies, pollen and rippled water provide the backdrop for Eisley's themes. Voices to match. Stacy and Sherri have noteworthy voices separately, but their interlaced melodies and harmonies, no one else sounds like this. It is particularly impressive that Stacy, just turned age 16, sounds slightly-raspy alto with mild psychedelia.

I sincerely enjoy every single track on the album.

(1) "Memories" is a misty, nostalgic weeper with harmonious hope.

(2) "Telescope Eyes" is practically twice the speed here, with an omitted verse, this anthem chorus of a song whizzes by. Eisley did not want this song on the album originally, but the producers pushed for it, knowing this would be most likely to become a single. We all know how "first single released" is rarely an accurate indication for public debut as to the essence of the band. Case in point: "Yellow" by Coldplay or "Creep" by Radiohead.

(3) Sherri's vocals soar on "I Wasn't Prepared" that I stand in wonder how she pulls off this song night after night on tour.

(4) "Golly Sandra" is so addictively indie slide-guitar that it evokes the same reaction from me as "Gone for Good" by The Shins does. I read one review that the song made him want to stutter the beginning of every word - I completely agree.

(5) "Marvelous Things" is the child of children who obsessively read Lord of the Rings, dragons, and other fantasies.

(6) "Brightly Wound" is fairly simple in concept, but the harmonies and delayed interplay... that is Eisley's aural trademark.

(7) The original version of "Lost at Sea" makes me wonder why a remix of this song was included at the end. I purchased the album without the extra track, and I'm glad, because the magic ending of "Trolley Wood" is near-killed with the remix.

(8) The constant flux of minor-major chords in "My Lovely" paired with a driving beat, makes one of the more head-bopping rockable tracks.

(9) The most acoustic track on the album belongs to "Just Like They Do," which highlights Stacy on guitar instead of her usual Rhodes. A beautiful ballad.

(10) I had read "Plenty of Paper" sounds as if it belongs in some Tim Burton film. Nothing to add, because it is just that eerie-fun.

(11) Do not let the sparse slow introduction of "One Day I Slowly Floated Away" deceive you. This band rarely leaves music that straightforward.

(12) When I heard the finger-snapping beginning of "Trolley Wood," which then continued on, I fell in love with this song. One of the catchiest songs and personal favorite to have the word "hallelujah" included, not intended as blasphemy.

4.5 out of 5 stars. There's growth potential, and I am excited about their future.

Additional note: Having seem them live in concert 3 times now, these kids are so incredibly humble, unassuming and kind, I wish them all the best.

Eisley is purely amazing.

Three sisters, a cousin and a friend define this whimsical band, with breathtaking airy vocals, the surreal like lyrics, dreamy but wholeheartly touching at points.

From Memories, to Trolley Wood, Room Noises is by far one of the few albums that never gets old.

This is, by far and away, my favorite album. I didn't expect it to be. The first thing I heard from this band was the Marvellous Things EP, which I purchased at the suggestion of my little brother (who listens to everything from Mudvayne to Primus). The next morning I purchased Room Noises, which had just been released. I didn't expect Eisley to be this good. I didn't expect to be captivated by haunting female vocal harmonies; I didn't expect to fall in love with the subtle instrumental landscape that lies beneath those harmonies. Although Eisley's music touches on anything from the Beatles to the Cranberries, there is something present in this music that I've never heard before. You should buy this album. It is, in my opinion, the most unique component of my music collection. ... and just for a reference point, some of my other favorite artists include Pinback, Jeff Buckley, Over the Rhine, Model Engine, Breaking Benjamin, Blind Melon, Muse, Modest Mouse, and Standing on Earth. I hope this helps...