Comparisons to jangly, American guitar pop of the ’60s, but the intentions of the songs evoke gloomy Northern soul ala The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays.
Blending today’s pop sensibilities with an early ’90s rock sound, the album experiments with songs that come off as adult-contemporary or as college rock.
You really should know about Wire, especially if you care about any sort of post-whatever rock music being played today. Up there with Can, VU, and The Fall.
Sounds kinda clever lyrically, but with Ben Fold around, who needs 1500 potential openers? To be fair, I can see how short-sighted fans could think this rules.
Like most stuff of this ilk, it’s a damn good start down the right dark and noisy path. Some off-kilter rhythms and freakshow keyboards, but it’s all 101 stuff.
Calculatedly clever Beatles pop and Elton John piano balladeering, these guys pull out every cliché in the book, and rub it all over yer secret pop spot.
Part DC, part Boston, this is angular, edgy, semi-jangly, semi-drony indie rock that’s catchy but slightly abrasive, tuneful but not formulaically sweet.