True,it's more straightforward pop than the OTC, and I never really likedthem, either, but this release just seems like it's lacking somethingall the way through. From the opening title track, the vocal harmoniesand treated guitars greet you and prepare you for the journey. And youwould get the impression that this is what you can expect for most ofthe record, which would make it pretty boring. Unfortunately, thatisn't the case here: it's worse. There are moments of other soundsentering the picture, but they are few and far between, and they don'tlast long. Then it's right back to the same old shtick. Layers ofguitars and vocals that are treated with different effects, clearlyrecorded drums, and occasional bouts of handclaps. Ho hum, yawn. Andthe subject matter, mainly dealing with themes of light and the sun (afixation with sunshine = The Sunshine Fix. How clever.), is verysimplistic. It could be flushed out and explored more, but it's verysurface level. Towards the end of the release, I realized what wasmissing: the rest of the Olivia Tremor Control. Now that that group isdefunct, the members are revealing that their music was a great case ofthe whole being greater than the sum of its parts. There is a twinkleof hope on tracks like 'Everything is Waking,' and I can only hope theyuse that twinkle to greater effect and explore wider themes on futurerecordings. This got real stale real quick. - samples:
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