published: 19 /
2 /
2011
Label:
Hardly Art
Format: CD
Flawed, but still satisfying debut album from exuberant New York trio La Sera, the other band of Katy Goodman, who is also the bassist in the harder-edged Vivian Girls
Review
Katy Goodman is the bassist and one of the vocalists in the Brooklyn-based, pop-punk Vivian Girls. Now, she joins Jenn Prince on guitar and Jonathan Weinberg on drums and keys in La Sera.
Goodman recently toured with the Vivian Girls internationally and created the Wild World label, with her colleagues, as well, besides performing with All Saints Day.
Her new material, which draws energy from 50s epics and lush choral works, provides a perfect diving board for the exuberant, bouncy La Sera trio. These sumptuous songs consist of layered tambourine, guitar and many-hued harmonies; they were recorded in Seattle resulting in these dozen tracks. The themes span love; unrequited and newly found and a pop-themed surprise…death.
The opener ‘Beating Heart’ kicks off with angelic vocals, which urge “Don’t go away.”
The voices of Goodman, Prince and Weinberg merge in unison, in the lighter pop-infused ‘Never Come Around.’ Then, the voices really soar in the light Abba-esque harmonies of ‘You’re Going to Cry.’ The guitar work recalls very early Beatles and triggers memories of innocent pop ballads back in the day.
Almost mid-way through the CD we get to ‘I Promise You.’ The voices blend wistfully, but a little more of that Vivian Girl bite would be nice right now. The tune ‘Hold’, with its slight dissonance rattles the equilibrium and stands out as the most well orchestrated arrangement.
‘Devils Hearts Grow Gold’ is a fabulous title, but is this a happy or sad song? ‘Been Here Before’ lets a fresh breeze flow through a crack in the window. A twinge of punk adds to the delight. ‘Lift Off’ ends the even dozen. This one deviates from the former via solo vocal ramblings.
The songs all tend to be on the short side; something we expect from pop fare, but so many of the endings were abrupt when some subtle fade-outs might have facilitated more diversity. But, it is a lovely, soaring vocal-solid effort.
Track Listing:-
1
Beating Heart
2
Never Come Around
3
You're Going To Cry
4
Sleeptalking
5
I Promise You
6
Left This World
7
Hold
8
Under The Trees
9
Devils Hearts Grow Gold
10
Dove Into Love
11
Been Here Before
12
Lift Off