As the year has progressed, several
great singles and EPs have been released for which I have written reviews or
should have written reviews. I’ve waited
for many of these bands to go ahead and release new full length albums before
offering my thoughts, but several have not yet materialized. So, over the next week or two, I hope to
share my enthusiasm for some great singles that have come along during 2014
that I’ve neglected to share.
Arts & Leisure
“Weekend”
7”
Every time a
new record is released on Sacramento
label Test Pattern Records, I get
the sense that I need to at least visit that city, if not move there. I see the wonderful John Conley (Holiday Flyer,
California Oranges, Desario) designed record sleeves and
hear the great music coming out of that city and see show lineups to die for
listed on social media and I think to myself – “What’s happening down
there?”
“Weekend” is
a perfect little 7” single to follow-up last year’s Arts & Leisure debut LP ChooseYour Adventure (my #27 pick for 2013).
Arts & Leisure rose quickly from the end of veteran band Baby Grand, whom I had just learned of
a few years back and was just getting involved with their cool, breezy
sound. Now they’ve got a very basic
old-fashioned straight-forward pop sound and it proves that if done right, it can
sound fresh every time.
The A-side,
“Weekend,” is as straight-forward musically as a band can get with its simple
mid-tempo drum pattern and walking bass line, buzzing twin guitars and Gerri White’s breathy voice enhanced by
Becky Cale’s harmonies. There’s nothing that stands out to describe
about the song except that it sounds great, is memorable, and reminds of sunshine. Maybe the fact that the lyrics tend more
towards something from The Jesus and
Mary Chain’s Darklands than a California beach party is
a cool unexpected twist. I’m a sucker
for the girl groups and rainy day bleakness, so this will win out every time!
Likewise,
the B-side, “Over You,” cruises along with a similar vibe. The vocals are more emphatic, as the killer
chorus lets us know that they are “done crying over you.” If one is to be dumped, there’s worse ways to
be let go than by a catchy tune.
This is a
nice introduction to the band, but don’t let their debut go by the wayside – go
out and get that one too!
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