Guillaume Wendels’ review of “Share This” on AlternativNews.com:

The nice thing with Deep Elm is that all the albums they release can be bought with your eyes closed. We know of course the quality of the label’s roster, but with each new group they sign, we know that we will discover something unique. When I saw the label that was associated with this group, I immediately listened. I was completely captivated by these 11 aggressive yet fragile emo-pop songs. It’s very simple, since I started playing Share This it’s never left my turntable.

Their sound has a “je ne sais quoi” new feeling to it. In fact, if Taking Back Sunday slowed the tempo to some Brand New’s songs that were arranged by Death Cab for Cutie and Say Anything, and the whole lot was shaken for forty minutes, it would produce the best kept secrets of Les Sages. The League War and Friends completes with the best of Brand New, with such amazing melodies. But the main force that makes all the difference is the voices.

All group members sing, and the combination of those four vocals give a magical effect to every song. Reinvention and Mumbled are the perfect example. With almost post-rock crystalline guitars and piano, it is breathtaking beauty. In fact, everything that the group touches turns to gold. Nomads competes with the best of Death Cab and the chorus rivals the legendary Jimmy Eat World. The big rock Red Lights and Driver Of the Hearse might have found their place on a Say Anything album. The use of the piano is always wise and never pompous, providing the emotion and space. Action, the bluesy Tricks and above all The Soldier’s Mark are all mastered to perfection and will affect anyone with a heart. The Soldier’s Mark is the finest song of the album, the lyrics vibrate with melody and transport you elsewhere.

It’s impossible not to be shocked after hearing Share This, especially for a group that I didn’t know about a week ago. A no-fault album of emo-pop the likes of which we have not heard of for a long time. No gimmicks, no posing…just four humble brothers in the service of music. I’m sure they’re not even aware they have just released an album that can compete successfully with the very best.

Source: http://www.alternativnews.com/2010/05/chronique-les-sages-share-this.html

Tom Haugen’s review of “Share This” on Go211.com:

Sophomore effort from a brother band who have been plugging away for sometime, Les Sages from Salt Lake City (pronounced Lay-Sahj) return with their debut disc under the Deep Elm label, ‘Share This’, available now from Itunes.

A very polished outing here, Les Sages utilize intricate guitar work and lots of piano lines to build songs brimming with melody and powerful harmony. With 4 voices being used on nearly each song, this is a very unique listen as it shifts from soothing and emotive to angst ridden and ebullient.

Subject matter that surrounds personal issues as well as some political/social themes involving a soldier’s time at war give this a very mature feel while still retaining the energy and attitude of a very youthful band. Successfully managing to take nods at some of the more well known current bands like Brand New and Death Cab while still holding down their own identity, Les Sages have delivered one of the most exciting discs in indie rock this year.

Source: http://www.go211.com/u/tomhaugen/blogs/10106

The cats outa-the-bag. Our record has just been released to all major online digital music sellers. So pick your favorite and go buy the album. It’s the best way you can help support what we’re doing. The new record (as well as our first release) have been released under Deep Elm Records, and awesome indie label we respect very much and feel privileged to be part of.

Today our song “Friends” is the free daily download on eMusic.com!
Here’s what they have to say about it:

Some siblings burn years fighting over petty things, stealing each others’ toys, pushing each other down stairs, and generally being as obnoxious as possible. The Larson boys apparently did not have the time or the patience for that kind of nonsense. Instead, Joe, Andrew, Peter and Kris banded together to for Les Sages and make music in their Utah studio. The results fuse the darting guitars of post-rock with earnest, pleading vocals. Their songs move from meditative openings to ragged, searching choruses. What startles is the difficulty: Les Sages eschew broad strummed chords in favor of complicated guitar patterns, the kind of post-punk stubbornness that rewards repeated listens.

Source: http://www.emusic.com/dailydownloads/toolbar/main.html