I usually complain when bands try too hard to sound like other bands. This Cleveland trio, however, is a exception. Though they draw from a well of several acts including the Velvet Underground, the Vulgar Boatmen, and perhaps a slight touch of Joe Henry, this album somehow made me forget all the reference points.
The third track, the Velvets-esque “Impossible Me,” features sweet, wandering gentle electric guitar and near whispering vocals and leads into the best song on the record, the incredibly catchy “Late Great Singer”. In an ideal world, this song would rule radio stations across the country: “Never gonna be a late great singer/Never gonna fill Carnegie Hall/Never gonna be the star that you pictured/Lightening up your bedroom walls.” It starts off slowly and builds itself up to an electric crescendo, then softly comes back down. Sort of like…well, a late great singer.
“Eleanor” is a reverb-filled tune which would fit nicely into the David Lynch movie of your choice. “Satellite Chevy” is just about the only song with a hint of country flavor in it — and it’s about UFO’s. Another keeper is “EverytimeItrytosleep”, a romantic little ditty with flat-out gorgeous guitar playing and singing.
