Catherine Avenue

admin — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 03:40:00 +0000

Biirdie came into my life at just the right time. Named for the musical Bye Bye Birdie (but adding an extra “I” because one Birdie band already exists), this southern California folk-rock trio’s sophomore release may not be extraordinarily adventurous or unusual, but they nevertheless make you want to take a long drive into nowhere, windows down. Maybe living in Boston, I hear songs about L.A. and get whimsical for rolling hills that lead to desert. Maybe I crave anything that sounds like perpetual springtime. Or perhaps I just find comfort in sappy, fuzzy rock about confusing love and wishing the weekend would arrive. Whatever it is, this CD hasn’t left my player for weeks as a result.

The one major flaw on this album for me is track three, “Who Were You Thinkin’ Of,” which is what I can only assume is the songwriters’ attempt to be quirky and clever, repeatedly wondering who else their partner was considering while they’d been making love. I know I’m old fashioned about love and romance, but isn’t that wildly insulting? If I don’t understand postmodern hook-ups, it’s because I don’t want to.

Overall, Biirdie won my heart. I looked up concert dates and kept their MySpace page open at work in case I got cranky and needed some dusty indie folk rock. “L.A. is Mars” has been on repeat in my room during the last few weeks, which were particularly sad in my life, and it—along with “Life in a Box”—saved me. I may be prone to repetitive media consumption, but that doesn’t mean any random band can achieve compulsively loved status with me. Recommended if you wish bands like Folk Implosion and Coconut Records would form a supergroup of mellow, country-tinged, roaming blues-rock.

Written by: Brittany Shoot, March 23rd 2008

Live and Learn

admin — Sat, 05 May 2007 02:19:00 +0000

By House of Fools

Drive Thru Records

Drive Thru Records appears to have taken a gamble on House of Fools and won. The Greensboro, NC sextet - recently on tour with Brand New - is quite a departure from the label’s notoriously pop-punk roster. Following their eponymous 2006 EP, House of Fools released their first full-length album, Live and Learn. The 15-track compilation, including hidden track “Blame You,” runs the gamut between indie and rock with ethereal layered guitars (a la Jimmy Eat World), eclectic yet pop-sensible instrumentation (think horns, banjo, accordion and shredding guitar solos), and retro vocals reminiscent of The Beach Boys.

Live and Learn might not reel you in on the first spin because it’s a conceptual album that requires further commitment, but if you’re willing to live with it for a few days, it’s bound to take up permanent residency in your stereo. Lead vocalist Josh King has such a bittersweet and demanding voice that he really sells lines like, “I’m coming to claim what I consider mine, even if we all go down . . . I want to get my gun to prove how much I love you.” This is a really good body of work, but the mid-tempo songs tend to resonate most. High points are title track “Live and Learn” and “What Are We Supposed To Do.” Produced by Walt Vincent, this album focuses on the topic of male sensitivity, weakness and desire that’s packaged in such an overwhelmingly epic way that is anything but emo-passé.

Written by: Claire Ashton, May 4th 2007