Silver Bars
Center of the City Lights
(Shifting Sounds)
Writing this recommendation has been
slow coming for me. First of all, I
absolutely love this debut album from this Austin, TX four-piece. I’ve wanted to share this for several weeks
now, but every time I sit down to write something, I get lost while listening
and get nothing done. The good part for
me is that I keep hearing these incredible songs, and every time I listen, I
come away with a new favorite song.
Shifting Sounds Records is sure building an impressive roster with releases like
this one, Honeyrude’s incredible
debut in 2017, and the gritty Magnet School. Texas has become a hotbed for dream pop with
an aggressive edge. Much like Honeyrude,
this debut feels and sounds like the work of seasoned veterans at the height of
their powers. In addition, both bands
portray some of the most impressive and expressive soaring guitar work I’ve
heard since I first heard the Chameleons
back in the 80s, or maybe Chrome era Catherine Wheel. Guitarists Ken Hatton and Paula J.
Smith are on fire here. Each song is
highlighted by absolutely scorching hot leads that lead to descriptions such
as: stratospheric and captivating, as well as intricate cascading picking that
evokes images of the shimmering falling embers from a colorful explosive
firework high in the sky. Meanwhile
Smith’s lyrics are thought-provoking and her lead vocals are unique and unassumingly
alluring. I do not mean “unique” in a takes some getting used to sort of way,
but in a haven’t heard a voice like hers
before sort of way. This even truer
when bassist Stephen Thurman lends
his vocals seamlessly to hers, creating an intriguing melding that is wholly
its own sound.
The LP kicks off with the slow
burning “Pulse,” which is one of those particular majestic songs that would
shine both as the perfect introductory song or the big dramatic closing finale. In this case, as the intro, it does an
incredible job at setting an intense mood and to foreshadow the amazing journey
we’re about to embark. Next up are the
two pre-LP singles: the remarkably addictive bitter indictment of “Lost You to
L.A,” which contains some serious moments of cranking revelation spurred on by
the propelling rhythm section of Thurman and drummer Johnny Wilkins, and then there’s the redemptive “Last Crash
Landing,” containing a guitar passage in the chorus that I’ve found myself
humming eternally since I put this record on the turntable for the first time. “Marching Song” concludes side one with a
slow intro that comes on like the sun creeping its way over the horizon before
building increasing tension to an explosive conclusion.
The second side begins with the
heartbreaking epic “Green Trees,” before melding into the mid-tempo beauty of “Emergency,”
which evokes the effortless gliding principles of prime Abecedarians. “Put on Your
Face” brings some up-tempo fire to side two with an elevating chorus. The album closes this collection with the
brilliant “Slowly but Surely,” and it’s smooth comforting electric warmth.
Luckily, the digital version of
Center of the City Lights has two additional songs! These are no throwaways. In fact, I can’t get enough of the ‘what’s
the matters’ of the verses “Get Comfortable,” as well as the instrumental grind
of its chorus. The second album finale, the
melancholy “Spirit Guides,” is another spectacular highlight with a lot of
great lines like “kingdom come is a moving target.” This definitely one of the best albums I’ve
heard all year. Please consider
discovering this great new band!
Silver Bars "Lost You to L.A."
This album absolutely smokes.
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