|
 |
An AngleWe Can Breathe Under Alcohol Drive-Thru/Shock First track Green Water sounds something like a cross between Modest Mouse's Float On, Elliot Smith, and Bright Eyes. Hang on, what with his affected voice, the singer even sounds like Conor Oberst! Look, there he is on the cover, long dark fringe and all. Songs like St. Augustine and Angry Drunk, later in 'We Can Breath Under Alcohol', are quiet, introspective ballads too. However, it's not another side project from Oberst: this is all the work of Californian songwriter Kris Anaya. Once you get past the similarities with Bright Eyes, 'We Can Breathe Under Alcohol' is actually a really good record, and the poppiness is refreshing. Female backing vocals from Jessica Brown help establish a light mood. The record alternates well between gentle acoustically-infused emo and peppier songs. Pop ballad White Horse is probably the highlight of the album, while Change The World hints towards Pavement-style quirkiness. Lyrically it gets a bit weak - there are too many "wry" references to indie music, for example. Alcohol features predominately as a theme. There are a whole pile of descriptors that normally get stuck onto records like this: "heart on sleeve", "folk hero", "bares his soul". They all apply, to some degree, but it's best not to get to carried away by all of that. The best description is that this simply a good album to get if you ever liked Bright Eyes.  |
|
The latest issue available now!     |
All content copyright dB Magazine