Throw Me The Statue - Moonbeams

Throw Me The Statue
Moonbeams
(02.2008, Secretly Canadian)
Verdict: Pleasant, it's the new charming

It took me a while to obtain this album. I ignored acclaim and recommendations from friends until one day I heard it playing in the ol' Slowtrain and it seemed to be soundtracking this lovely weather quite perfectly. The album art is sooooo bad however that I couldn't bring myself to buy it, and eventually just downloaded it. Shame too, since I love having physical copies of my music, and it's even out on vinyl. I took it upon myself to censor the cover art for this post, but it still didn't make it any more appealing or friendly on the eyes. I am sorry for disappointing all our millions of readers. Next time I alter an album cover I will not disappoint. Anyways, on to the review. Seems like 2008 is overflowing with pleasant music. 2006 saw a giant wave of quirky charm. 2007 saw everything through quirky poptastic glasses and now 2008 is chillin' out, maxin', relaxin' all cool and shootin' some b-ball upside the school to put a smile on your face with it's quirky pleasantries and niceties. Such is Moonbeams, a quaint multi layered jangly indie pop album of diversity. Although the songs range from chord strummers to melodica and glockenspiel laden frolics to electronica, all are pleasant above all else and definitely comparable with sunshine and yellow flowers to lift your spirits. Personally I like this trend of happiness and hope it continues well on into the year. Happiness to all and to all a good night.

-Sassigrass

Jens Lekman - Night Falls Over Kortedala

Jens Lekman
Night Falls Over Kortedala
(10.2007, Secretly Canadian)
7.0/10.0

I really enjoy Christmas music for some reason. Maybe it is the sentimentalism or the implied good nature that the songs promote or a combination of both. Whatever the reasoning, the music somehow manages to resonate optimism and with an almost supernatural charge, alters my mood to grinning contentedness. It is so cheesy though. Perhaps it is the great lengths at which the music is put away and its brief reappearance that allows it to be palatable or maybe it is just the subconscious realization of new toys that accompanies it. I bring this up because it is not even Thanksgiving yet and I already heard my first earfuls of Christmas music and I was thinking to myself (unable not avoid the happiness it produced), "this stuff is going to kill me before I make it to December 25th." It's a true silent killer, even though I love it, it's a drug and an overdose would induce madness. Though largely tangential, this is mostly what I feel about Jens Lekmans most recent release, Night Falls Over Kortedala. For some reason it resonates the same overwhelming, pompous joy that I get when I overhear Christmas tunes. Wildly over orchestrated and unashamedly cheesy, Lekman has managed an odd guilty pleasure. Where Lekman's previous release, Oh You're So Silent Jens managed to sidestep the guilty pleasure status, Night Falls Over Kortedala runs headlong into each track, shamelessly adding theatrical bursts of strings, horns, synths, bells, pianos and Lekman's own angel voice. The album is wonderful, always sparking smiles, even in its melancholic, love obsessed lyrics, and yet, if I tried to listen to this more than couple times a week I would probably go mad with an overdose of Lekman's dramatic charm. Still, it is a wonderful record while the charm lasts.

-Mr. Thistle

David Vandervelde - The Moonstation House Band

David Vandervelde
The Moonstation House Band
(2007, Secretly Canadian)
9.0/10

This little beauty slipped by us for a few months, but now we've caught on to it, we're holding it tight. David Vandervelde is a Chicago based, self taught multi-instrumentalist. He plays guitar, drums, bass, piano, and synth- like a champ. The Moonstation House Band has classic rock practically dripping from every song. Vandervelde seems to have been influenced by every great. In reading other reviews on this album I saw him compared to: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Mickey Finn, and Marc Bolan. I don't think any of them are incredibly accurate in and of themselves. You can catch small sounds that seems to be from those legends, but somehow Vandervelde has been able to take all his influences and blend them all up into a delicious smoothie of his own concoction. It's a unique sounding album that is somehow familiar. Opening with the most upbeat and catchy tune, on first listen the rest of the album feels like a slight let down- until you listen to it again... and again... and again. The entire album becomes pretty mesmerizing and if you pick it up, it may just be the only thing you listen to for the next month.

-Sassigrass

David Vandervelde - The Moonstation House Band (full album stream)