Home » Music » Indie Music » Choice Cuts: February 2002 - Page 4

Choice Cuts: February 2002 - Page 4

© Adam McKibbin

For More Info: Visit the band’s site at http://www.thestephenhero.com or listen to selected tracks at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/stephenhero

Artist: Fraz

Album: Hear

The Scoop: Fraz is a Toronto-based singer/songwriter entrenched firmly in the pop vein. Hear is an upbeat and uplifting collection (“Dream big / Dream bigger still” is a representative lyric), relentlessly romantic even when exploring the darkness.

Highlight Tracks: “Private Room” is an interesting twist on modern romance, offering the perspective of cyber-lovers (“Asked her her name and she only answered with : )” ). “Perfect,” meanwhile, is a radio-ready single and a fine opening number, illustrating Fraz’s keen ear for pop melodies.

The Downside of Dreams: Such territory is ripe with potential for cheesiness—and there certainly are moments (e.g. the computerized voices that creep up, most inauspiciously on “Slipping”).

For More Info: Visit Fraz’s site at http://www.fraz.net. Or go to CD Baby to listen to selected tracks ( http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/fraz ).

Artist: Parker & Lily

Album: Hello Halo

The Scoop: Formerly known as Valentine Six, New Yorkers Parker Noon and Lily Wolf return with an 11-song collection of wintry, urban melancholy the depths of which were never fully suggested in their previous work. The fact that Parker & Lily are real-life lovers lends some extra weight to the mostly somber love songs. Parker is a languid frontman—think Michael J. Sheehy or even Chet Baker—who sometimes sounds like he’s singing in his sleep.

Highlight Track: “Waitress” and “My Golden Arm.” For my money, there is something a little too detached about Parker’s delivery. What kept me listening to—and enjoying—the album were the unusual melodic structures, driven by Lily’s inspired work on everything from the vintage Rhodes to the Hammond organ to the Vibraphone. Matt Verta-Ray (Speedball Baby, Madder Rose) also fills out the sound with his steel guitar.

For More Info: Visit the label site at http://www.orangerecordings.com

The copyright of the article Choice Cuts: February 2002 - Page 4 in Indie Music is owned by Adam McKibbin. Permission to republish Choice Cuts: February 2002 - Page 4 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.