Paper Moon - One Thousad Reasons To Stay
by Laura Branch
published: 1 / 9 / 2002

Label:
Endearing
Format: CD
intro
Spectacular "pristine pop" on "Impressive debut" from new Winnipeg group
Rising phoenix-like from the ashes of, most notably, dearly departed indie popsters B’ehl, are Paper Moon – a name that reflects their duality to an extent. At first you think they’re going to be fey cardigan wearing stereotypes with those sugary vocals, but then they poke your eyes out with their guitars, resulting in smooth, melodic yet crunchy pop. The slick, expressive, seductive yet cute apple pie vocals of Allison Somers demand your attention as she glides through three and a half minutes of pure pop – you feel as if their songs wouldn’t be out of place on Top of the Pops – if it wasn’t fixed of course. Allegedly. Without wishing to ignore the three other members of Paper Moon, it is their lead vocalist Allison Somers, who, for me, makes them stand out from their contemporaries. Most notably on 'Sno-Globe', she reminds me a little of Natalie Imbruglia, a little of Kylie, and a little of Kate Bush – but without the crap, yet such comparisons undoubtedly fail to convey the uniqueness of her voice Forty minutes of pristine pop, at times mildly reminiscent of Fonda, St Etienne or the Cardigans, completes your journey through an impressive debut. For although Paper Moon won't hit you in the face with their innovation, they tread a well-trodden path with skill, grace and lustre – it’s just good chunky pop.
Track Listing:-
1 Your Thesaurus Won't Help You Know2 Mercury is Clearly Opposing Neptune
3 Sno-Globe
4 Start Over
5 Remember Me
6 Pancake Bay Weather Station
7 Better Days
8 The History of Punctuation
9 I've Done It Wrong Again
10 Memories Through Photographs
most viewed articles
current edition
Peter Doherty - Blackheath Halls, Blackheath and Palace Halls, Watford, 18/3/2025 and 21/3/2025Yardbirds - Interview with Jim McCarty
Johnny Cash - Video Vault
Max Bianco and the BlueHearts - Troubadour, London, 29/3/2025
John Philip Shenale - Interview
Deb Googe and Cara Tivey - Interview
Armory Show - Interview with Richard Jobson
Man From Delmonte - Interview
Loft - Interview
Vapors - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Bryan Ferry and Amelia Barrett - Loose TalkIvor Game - When Will You Fall Into My Loving Arms?
Gabriel Moreno - Nights in the Belly of Bohemia
Doris Brendel and Lee Dunham - Big Blue Sky
Brooke Combe - Dancing at the Edge of the World
Shaw's Trailer Park - I Thought I Saw You
Bryan Adams - Live at the Royal Albert Hall 2024
Ringo Starr - Look Up
FKA twigs - Eusexua
Leon Bridges - Leon
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart