Choice Cuts: February 2002 - Page 3
© Adam McKibbin
For More Info: Check out http://www.cocktailangst.com or listen to selected tracks at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/cocktailangst
Artist: La Pieta
Album: Summer
The Scoop: Absolutely charming. An exercise in restraint; indie pop that is highlighted by flowery vocal harmonies, subtle songwriting and smart guitar playing. You’ll listen to the album and want to have the band over some time for dinner.Highlight Track: “Surround” It’s given me great pleasure to sing “My heart beats / My heart beats warmly / Whoa-whoa” when people least expect it. An oddity in that it feels like a catchy little indie pop nugget but is actually almost seven minutes in length. The alternating vocals between bassist Rachel and drummer Eric are sugary sweet.
Honorable Mention: “Telephone Line” is more of the same goodness. Great guitar riff.For More Info: Visit the band site at http://www.lapieta.net or listen to selected tracks (and buy the album) at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/lapieta
Artist: Park Avenue Music
Album: To Take With You
The Scoop: Sexy in a Portishead kind of way (in other words, real sexy). Jeannette Faith could sing a song about breaking up with you because you are a horrible, horrible human being and—as long as she was supported by Wes Steed’s lustrous soundscapes—she’d still turn you on.Highlight Track: “Petals,” the opening track, inspired that part above.
Honorable Mention: “Trouble Sleeping” is a simple piano ballad, given a little bit of extra electronic spice but not depending on it for a backbone. It may have made for a better closing track than midway track, though, as Faith’s floating vocals make for quite the lullaby.For More Info: Visit the label site at http://www.devilinthewoods.com or visit the band site at http://www.parkavenuemusic.com
Artist: The Stephen Hero
Album: Permutations of the Good
The Scoop: Their name is taken from an abandoned James Joyce manuscript and their bios chart obsessions with space travel, education reform and fractal geometry. All of this and, to their credit, Permutations of the Good is neither scary nor pretentious. Peter Dobmeier makes for a fairly ordinary lead singer, but he’s a compelling lyricist. And The Stephen Hero’s post-punk “art rock” sound is dense, complicated and satisfying throughout.Highlight Track...And Why It’s OK Not To Have One: My favorite is the unpredictable “Bruises,” but no song really leaps from the pack. The band is patient and comfortable in their sound and don’t swing for the fences on any one track. For the most part, you’ll either like the crowded sound, the socially aware story-lyrics and the odd time signatures or you won’t. It’s definitely worth finding out.
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