Higgins does a pretty credible job of mining the Emitt Rhodes/Beatles/High Llamas sound and then twisting it around so it no longer resembles a retro one trick pony. Lead singer Kevin Fish has a vocal timbre that recalls both Andy Partridge and Ray Davies at once. The Opener “There He Is” sounds like it fell off of Badfinger’s “No Dice” with it’s warmly laid down harmonies and memorable laid back riffs. “Always Something” then mixes a few other influences here, like a Kinks ballad, a lamented Fish intones “There is always something to keep someone from loving me.” Using bits of McCartney-styled piano flourishes in “Wall of Dumb” it also evokes the Bearnaked Ladies self-effacing humor in a gentle baroque way. “Jamy” uses its horns and banjo in that subtle Beach Boys nod with lazy sounding percussion section that ends the song off like it was played by a group of stoned musicians. Up to this point, Higgins does it’s best to keep the sound intimate, and that’s when it’s pure pop master stroke is revealed in “Yes I Know” with it’s XTC styled dualing guitar parts, and multi-part harmonies. It dials down to a sentimental violin lead in “Write it Down” – one thing for sure, this album is not predictable at all, because it drives off the Prog Rock cliff with a psyche-pop drum solo in “Prelude To Charly” and then the trippy “Charly” with it’s meaty riffs and wild bass lead melody. Mixing all these dramatic elements is the last song “Everybody (Thunder Mountain)” and like the ending of “Strawberry Fields Forever,” I half expected to hear “I buried Paul” buried somewhere… Overall this is a very special album, that will please retro pop enthusiasts, like a puzzle box of influences that requires multiple listens to appreciate fully.
Just listen to “Everybody (Thunder Mountain)”