Austin-based Future Clouds and Radar, lead by multi-instrumental ensemble led by Robert Harrison (formerly of Cotton Mather) releases this very short album (only 8 tracks) and jumps from folk pop to pastoral art rock. Last year’s debut was one of the best albums of 2007. This year’s “Peoria” opens with the expansive arrangements of electric guitar and strings in “The Epcot View” would fit nicely on the last album. Harrison then channels Neil Young on “Old Edmund Ruff” before picking up the pace with “Feet On Grass,” a psyche-organ romp worthy of Mike Pinder. Both frustrating and mesmerizing is the wonderful opening to “Mummified” that plays like an Supertramp epic that devolves into The Beatles “Revolution #9” it is one of the best tracks here. The use of fuzz box guitar and ghostly vocals give the entire album the feel of kaleidoscopic smoke.The later tracks sound good but seem to be unfocused (“Eighteen Months”) or trying for a more epic psyche-orchestral mood than anything else (“The Mortal” and “Mortal 926”). Missing a very strong power pop tune may turn off some Cotton Mather fans, but if you’re willing to explore Harrison’s acid trip you will be not be disappointed.
Category: Power Pop Review
Soft Targets "Heavy Rainbow"
Soft Targets consist of singer/guitarist Jesse Corry and bassist/keyboardist Nathan Sadler and drummer Steven Gillespie. The debut album of this Tallahassee, Florida band is a blend of The Cure and Aztec Camera in terms of pop sounds. This is not quite power pop, and closer to indie pop with Corry’s vocals almost like Peter Murphy without the baritone. The melodies on the album are appealing in places with “Calm Me Down” being close to the style of the Talking Heads with some great guitar melody. In a funky way the song “The World Looks Bigger Now” is the most fully realized with harmonies and some nice arrangements, crisp guitar playing. The other songs that follow are pretty pedestrian, and don’t have the kind of hooks that stand out much. I was ready to write off the album at that point, but when the song “Skyscraper” took hold with a sharp guitar riff and catchy melody that merits attention. It’s got a glam-like heart with some nice harmonies and proves to be the best song on the album. After this we get the keyboard ballad “Sirens” which almost sound like Eric Matthews or Cardinal and makes a great contrast to the earlier tunes. The album picks up stream toward the end with other notable tracks (“Heavy Rainbow” and “Small Straight”) Overall, this album has several good tracks, and deserves some consideration.
MySpace | CD Baby
Listen to the “Calm Me Down”
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The Break and Repair Method "Milk The Bee"
So where do you go when your group has sold millions of albums (Matchbox 20)? If you’re drummer/guitarist Paul Doucette you put out a solo album that breaks the mold of his typecast role. The Break and Repair Method is full of lush arrangements and Doucette’s vocals have an earnest intensity that rivals Matthew Sweet. Opening with “This City is Bound To Do Us In” has a casual pop sense and it uses Doucette’s rasp to great effect. The obvious single here is “You Won’t Be Able To Be Sad” – it has great anthemic hook and lots of passion in the melody. Doucette receives a little help from his friends (Nina Gordon and Tracy Bonham among them) and his wife (Moon Unit Zappa), who help round out the sound. The keyboards are a front and center here, and it works to great effect on “Calling All Electric Prints” which recall both Jeff Tweedy and Paul McCartney. The guitar work returns on “I’m At A Low” with a very jazzy riff that carries the song along. The piano/guitar combos that fill the song “Your Numbered Days” and”Won’t Get Worse” will bring up comparisons to XTC and other Beatlesque bands here. Fans of Matchbox Twenty will certainly enjoy this album but keep in mind this a definite departure from the norm of that band. It’s a smart and subtle album that deserves repeat listens here.
Break and Repair Method Website | MySpace | itunes
Team Genius "Team Genius"
For those looking for a indie campfire sing-along, I give you Team Genius, who released the Hooray EP earlier this year and have now put out a full length CD. If you are into funky falsettos, blissful choruses, tonal experiments of some fairly primitive music, you’ll have a lot of fun with this group. But that doesn’t mean they don’t create some addictive pop too. Team Genius provides irreverent indie pop for the ipod generation. The opener “Take Me Home” showcases it’s strength in melody and instrumental skill similar to Matt Mahaffey (Self). This is followed by the GBV-like “Surely The Sun Will Explode” another excellent pop song that weaves together vocals of Drew Hermiller and Emma Firth. It then plays a catchy campfire sing-along with “Sing Song” with a strained shout of vocals that reminds me of the Proclaimers at a forest jamboree. “The Wise Ones All Give Up” is almost like a Talking Heads tune, and a few other tracks merit a listen but the album runs out of gas slightly by the end. The group is really close to breaking through, but some songs are quirky beyond accessibility. The band’s strength is it’s geek bravado and diverse use of instruments (cello, ukulele, harmonica, bells, percussion) as well as Firths angelic vocals. Fans of Magnetic Fields, Talking Heads, and newer Brooklyn quirky pop will love this one. Others would be advised to jump in the pool as well. The water’s fine.
Team Genius Website | CD Baby
Listen to the “Sing Song”
The Strand "Another Season Pass"
Much like Doug Derek and The Hoax, The Strand is another band from the early 80’s that had some success on college radio, and decided to start a come back. But in this case, rather than dig out those old tracks, the band (James Garner, John Hubbell and Bill Lasley) all tuned up the instruments in 2007 and picked up right where they left off. Okay rather than that earlier example, these guys are closer to the band Buddy Love. Fans of early Jam, Paul Collins and Stiff-era Elvis Costello will feel at home with this nostalgic, “skinny-tie” guitar pop. The songs are well produced and sound crisp and clean, with the opener “Rising Tide” lead by great songwriting and guitar work (no cheap synths here!) is easily the best song here. “Why’d You Call” is a typical 80’s throwback track, and you can make a game of guessing which songs were written recently vs. penned almost 20 years ago. Another good song is “Along for the ride” with a steady drum driven melody and guitar accents. The older tunes are okay, but the newer sounding material is better, for example the ballad “Begin Again” has a great story and piano melody. A curiosity here is “Scared Streets 1” which takes a page from The Ramones and early punk. If you wanted a glittering curiosity from another era, give this one a shot.
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