Kevin McAdams (drums/percussion for Elefant, Watchmakers, Maricopa, etc.) writes and sings a series of bouncy modern pop tunes. Elements of Coldplay, ELO and Magnetic Fields are present though most of the albums first half. “Start Over Again” kicks off with a catchy beat and hummable hook in the chorus. The follow up “US vs. World” is a multi-layered pop song that has ELO overtones and a compelling lyric. The piano ballad “Hourglass” is a faux blues tune with waltz-like chorus and a gentle harmony throughout. Another excellent song is “A Different Kind of Love Song” it has proggy roots with a gentle vocal across a sea of “la-la-la” over a steady beat. This song and “The Hustler” both have a little bit of Alan Parsons Project meets Beck feeling. It doesn’t stick to a single formula, or style for long, by “Leave Us Alone” it flirts with electronic dance music a la Sparks. It ends with a really strong piano pounding “My Time” and building to a chorus of “It’s my time… to loose my mind.” Heavy guitar enters on the energetic “Turn The Lights Off,” another good song that bring to mind what Puddle of Mudd would sound like if they knew anything about melody. This is an album that isn’t immediate, but definitely will grow on you after repeated listening.
CD Baby | Lala | Amazon