It Had To Do With Love
It's like 70s prog rock threw up on Ben
Folds. Organs and pianos replace guitars, and the head bobbing
commences. Even fuzzed out synths masquerading as horns make
their presence felt. It's all a little too precious and weak
sounding to be as much fun as they think they are. Some more
immediacy would add to the flavor of this thing. Otherwise it
ends up sounding like the Sesame Street theme over
and over again. |
Social Life
This, their second album, does away with
the gimmicky garbage and brings a slimmer, more guitar-driven
sound. They aren't The Strokes
or anything, but there are similarities in attitude and genre.
There's certainly a throwback sound going on here, but it's
less 70s FM and more 70s AM this time around. The lead singer
also ups his monotone a little bit to stretch his vocal chords,
and this thing rocks a lot harder than their debut. Again, there
are some Ben Folds things going on here (mostly because of the
piano background on most songs), but there is also some Broadway
on there as well. The songs are bold and big and definitive,
driving and catchy. The first time I heard this, I had to listen
to it several times in a row, and loved every minute of it.
It's faded somewhat in the intervening years, but holds a certain
place in my heart. I think these guys would have gotten more
notice had there not been a glut in the market of good and more
popular indie pop acts at the time (Hot
Hot Heat, The Walkmen, French
Kicks, etc). |
Musical Connections:
Joshua
|
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