Harper Blynn
(Baby Jackal Recordings)
There's something so hauntingly familiar about Harper Blynn that on first encounter it's hard not to tally up the comparisons right from the get go. A hint of Paul Simon, a little bit of Beatles, a dash of Cat Stevens and a power pop delivery find them both radio-ready and immediately engaging.
They're a disparate crew to be sure - their bio describes them as a Jewish ball player from Chicago, a choir boy from Philly, a first generation Indian living on Long Island and a native Dutchman -- but their chemistry clicks, making this auspicious debut sound like the product of a band that's been kicking around for awhile. "25 Years" charms with its shuffle and sway, "This Is It" provides a buoyant vibe, and "Steal Your Love" and "Centrifugal Force" assert the prerequisite pop designs. Still, it's the gentle piano signature of the unlikely "All the Noise" and the wistful reflection of "It May Be Late" that instill the album's charms. Happily then, Loneliest Generation boasts both old school attitude, as well as the craft to keep it credible.
Standout Tracks: "25 Years," "It may Be Too Late," "Centrifugal Force" LEE ZIMMERMAN
