So
@mrbelfry coined a couple of good summary points — it lacks weight and I don’t believe it. I agree, but I’ll be a bit nicer: 1) it could have used an edgier producer to blow off the glitter and add a few thumbtacks, pointy-end up; and 2) even though I don’t believe it either, it didn’t really bother me when I let my brain float away from the fact that this is a married couple.
I’ll add another — I have a pet peeve against records named only after the band, and especially when they aren’t debuts. Imagine if Charles Dickens’ first novel was called “Charles Dickens” or Monet’s first painting was called “Monet.” You’re supposed to be creative, you two — you’re artists, right?
Anyhow, as for the comments about “Closer”, I’d rather talk about the opener “Honey” which is a catchy, hooky little sumabitch, and moved into my “One Only” playlist (I.e. one song by every artist until I find something I like better by the artist). The slow ones like “Is It Over?” and “Closer” I found distracting from the energy of the jumpier stuff, and they were okay enough. But I much preferred the run of “I Don’t Know”, “You Got It” and “Morning Sun” along with the terrific opener, and “It’s OK.” But even typing these pedestrian titles is evidence that there’s a vagueness or lack of commitment that hangs over this, and it does fade as it goes some (“In Love” e.g. could be one of a million bands). Or maybe we have to face the fact that married couples are, you know, a little boring when they’re happy.
But its sound-a likes carry weight for me at least — I hear a smidge of New Order, and a little Metric, and a dash of Ivy (a band I’ve brought up before) and a pinch of Sleater-Kinney (another I’ve mentioned) and even the teensiest bit of Split Enz, and all of that is good, but I felt it stood on its own as original enough — though it’s less deep than all those bands, and one could argue that none of them are really that deep (SK aside, who have a lot more to say about relationships). Oh yeah — and Silversun Pickups. I could go on.
What is clear is that I liked this more than most of you. It’s tight, it bounces, it’s dancy, it has some good hooks, and while the instrumentation seems pretty straightforward, I like Eden Boucher’s voice. Or maybe it appeals to me because it comes as a breath of fresh air after so many nominations this summer I haven’t enjoyed much. An 8 is too high, just because it lacks gravitas and humo(u)r, but as I fully expect I will return to it and did enjoy all three chances I got to hear it, and actively wanted to hear it again, it clears the 7/10 hurdle by a modest amount. Best is that I have another new band to explore — gosh, imagine if some of their other records actually have something to say.
PS. I think I speak for all of us when I say cancer can go and fuck itself. Keep fighting, thread mates and loved ones of thread mates!