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The California-based Lookyloos' follow-up to 2002's lengthily-titled Perhaps the most satisfying joy left to us in an age so limited and vulgar as our own is a solid dose of coffee house indie pop. Eric Janssen's calm voice leads the trio, supported by instrumentation with just enough jazzy swing to highlight the technical ability of the musicians. Paul's Takushi's percussive work is particularly noticeable, as he is able to retain a soft timbre while playing parts that hold excellent grooves. Of course this is equally thanks to the production, the work of bassist and multi-instrumentalist Dave Thompson. The chord choices only add to this feel, as songs like "Three Years" and "Incommunicado" take on a mysterious, reflective sound. However, the majority of the tracks on the album are reminiscent of Arab Strap-era Belle & Sebastian. The sensibility behind album opener "Ace Ain't the Face" is a good example of many of the tracks that follow. The upbeat "Starchild" along with "Double Feature," a song featuring lyrics that give honorable mention to Jim Jarmusch and Harvey Keitel, round off a sound that is diverse yet consistent. In fact, the lyrics are often the most noticeable aspect of the music. Janssen's deliberate style is often augmented by wordy, memorable lyrics - "Nobody Sends Black Flowers," taken from a line in the 1971 film Harold and Maude, being the perfect example. However, this style may also often bring about unintended smirks from listeners, such as the simple lyrics about supermodels in "Confidante." The album does cover a lot of ground, yet the musical ability of the group hints that even more ground could be covered. While it initially may seem as if the Lookyloos have focused their genre when comparing You're Looking Very Beautiful Man to tracks from their debut, it is probably more accurate to assume that they are in fact expanding it.

The Lookyloos at Amazon & Insound