A Weather
(Team Love)
This Portland band, led by Aaron Gerber (vocals/guitar) and Sarah Winchester (vocals/drums) formed just four short years ago and had the indie rock community stand up and take notice on their 2008 debut, Cove with their patented (pardon the word) slow-core sound. . On this, record number two, the band once again enlisted the talent of Adam Selzer who has worked with everyone from M. Ward to the Decemberists and plenty of others. While Everyday Balloons sure sounds nice it's the songs that are occasionally lacking on here.
Opening cut, "Third of Life" wasn't the greatest tune to open the record with, way too loping and meandering, and at over six minutes it's about three minutes too long. "Winded", with its rollicking piano is a much better song while Aaron and Sarah's call and response vocals work perfectly. "Seven Blankets" is another snail-paced one that seems to be looking for a home (as is the Sarah-sung "Midday Moon"), while on the lovely "Newfallen", the guitar playing gives the feeling of an Autumn day and the vocal harmonies add that perfect layer on top. Again, Everyday Balloons sounds like the kind of gentle record that you want to carry you from Winter into Spring. And that it does - but you just might find yourself snoozing for part of the trip.
Standout Tracks: "Winded", "Newfallen", "No Big Hope", "Fond" TIM HINELY
