Wild Light
(Startime International)
The opening track is a wistful folk-pop gem served with an earnest vibrato and Bluebells-esque harmonica. The only thing that might scare off your average Peter, Paul and Mary fan is the bittersweet chorus: "Fuck today. Fuck San Francisco. Fuck California." See? These really are adult nights.
Sharing a label with indie-pop heroes Peter, Bjorn and John and a producer with Elliot Smith and Beck (Rob Schnapf), they've arrived at a richly textured full-length gem that's closer to the light and breezy side of Peter, Bjorn and John than the emotionally jarring depths of Smith. But rarely do they come off sounding twee or precious. It helps that nearly every track, from the yearning "New Hampshire" to the dreamy "Lawless River," is built on a solid foundation of pop sensibilities and lyrics that reach out and grab your attention. Highlights range from the piano-driven chamber-pop of the Zombies-esque "Call Home" to the majestic, soulful "Heart Attack."
Standout Tracks: "California on my Mind," "Heart Attack" A. WATT
