The phrase "pop sensibilities" gets overused, but it applies fully: The new EP The Sugarhill Sessions by What Made Milwaukee Famous (from Austin, not Milwaukee, for those playing along at home) is equal parts smart and adorable. Featuring re-recorded, acoustic versions of five songs from their first two albums, this EP is a perfect introduction to WMMF, especially since the EP is available as a free download from Barsuk Records until November 17th.
My two favorite tracks on the EP are "Sweet Lady," originally on the 2006 album Trying to Never Catch Up, and "Self-Destruct," from this March's What Doesn't Kill Us. The EP starts with "Sweet Lady," a jangly, silly-sweet song with playful piano and acoustic guitar parts, conjuring the image of a wacky-plan win-her-back montage from a sitcom. If Don McLean had recorded "Everybody Loves Me Baby" in 2008, it might have sounded a lot like "Sweet Lady." Fair warning: you will be dancing in your chair and singing backing vocals to this song. "Self-Destruct" is reminiscent of the way sad ballads are fielded by the Barenaked Ladies, and I mean that with praise; it reminds me of being thirteen years old and wistfully listening to "Call and Answer," and it's at least as strong a song. There's nothing lovelier than a pop ballad that eschews cliched lyrics, and the strength of the music and vocals steps up to match.
Although the EP certainly has its stronger and weaker songs (sorry, but "Cheap Wine" gets on my nerves), it's overall a great listening experience, and if you've heard of What Made Milwaukee Famous but haven't checked them out yet, you can't do better than this charming five-song EP. Download from Barsuk.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment