The Novel Ideas: The Sky Is A Field
Boston band The Novel Ideas follow up 2007’s well-received Say Hello with a free-to-download sophomore nugget by the name of The Sky Is A Field. The band has taken on a new confidence; when listening to the maudlin boogie of closer “The Field,” it’s not hard to imagine the band members giggling at themselves when they realize they’ve started to swagger before reasserting their earnest posture.
The music is neatly executed chamber pop in the vein of Okay (or Venice Is Sinking perhaps?) or perhaps a more American version of The Decemberists. The songwriting is very tidy, with sound hooks and some clever lyrics alluding elliptically to books and probably some Bad Experiences with girls – though given the band’s youth, they’re probably still writing about the same, like, two or three girls at this point, but who cares? What really make this album worth coming back to again and again are the three singers, Daniel Radin (who writes most of the songs and accordingly takes lead on most of them), Alex Caplow (an emerging Ben Gibbard type, who can sell the album’s most urgent moments) and Jeannie Yoon (eternally nostalgic, and always playing a character who is hurting someone’s feelings or feeling too unsure of herself to act in accordance with her own wishes). Not only do the three harmonize well, but each singer has a distinct personality that completes the charmingness of the album and warrants repeated listens.
The album is pristinely recorded and cleanly performed, and the damn thing is available for free. Working hard to avoid the obvious pun here.
The Novel Ideas – The Sky
The Novel Ideas – Julian Carax
The Novel Ideas’ Official Site
The Novel Ideas’ MySpace
great band, nice review. these guys deserve notice. thanks. btw, the decemberists ARE american.