Halloween, Alaska - s/t
(Princess)
They say there's a thin line between love and hate... pleasure and pain... Peter Gabriel and Sting...? Well, that's the impression left by this provocative debut from these veterans of the Minneapolis, Minnesota indie scene, which combines Gabriel's languid, cinematic melodies with Sting's jazzy pop sensibilities and smooth-as-glass delivery. Opener "You're It" is perfect for your late night, smooth groove, getting laid mix tape, and "Call It Clear" features nice percussive work (which drives the song without drowning it in effects) from David King, and is a hummable pop gem with hit single written all over it. James Diers sings the band's theme song, "Halloween," in an echo chamber, and rips off a great Vini Reilly-inspired guitar solo in the middle. It's also pleasantly reminiscent of some of the quieter pieces on Tobin Sprout's brilliant Moonflower Plastic.
"The Four Corners" cleverly rewrites the lyrical sentiment of Jimmy Webb's "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" and is as laid back and relaxing as a siesta under the Arizona noonday sun. They try to change the pace a bit with the awkward syncopation of their cover of Springsteen's "State Trooper" (the song skips so much I thought my CD player was broken), and I would like the boys to put a little more effort into their lyrics—"Call It Clear," Halloween," and "The Four Corners" all end with the same line repeated throughout the extended codas. But they wrap things up quite nicely with the warm and fuzzy Red House Painters' vibe of "Telling Me," so these minor distractions can be forgiven. Another key force to be reckoned with on the continually impressive Twin Cities music scene.
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