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Album Review: The Morning Benders - Talking Through Tin Cans |
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Sunday, 04 May 2008 |
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Talking Through Tin Cans could very well end up being the soundtrack to your next summer getaway. The debut LP by The Morning Benders is a breezy-affair—a collection of catchy indie-pop songs that combine earnest vocals, surf-rock guitars, ragtime pianos and psychedelic fuzz.
The Berkeley quartet of Chris Chu (vocals, guitar), Joe Ferrell (guitar, keyboards), Julian Harmon (drums) and Tim Or (bass) borrow a page or two from the Elephant 6 song-writing book, but let enough of their own personality show to make this album worthwhile. Chu’s vocals inhabit a sonic space somewhere between The Shins’ James Mercer and Of Montreal’s Kevin Barnes (particularly on the Barnes’ sounding “Patient Patient”), perfectly complimenting the band’s light drums and acid-dosed guitar.The band sounds particularly strong on “Heavy Hearts” and “Waiting for a War,” tracks that spotlight Ferrell’s electric piano playing. The way in which The Morning Benders bring “Waiting for a War” to its swirling conclusion, in particular,” suggests that greater things may lie ahead. The songs of Talking Through Tin Cans are a bit light on lyrical substance, with Chu spending most of the album lamenting lost loves, but there’s certainly a place for this brand of dream-pop.
Talking Through Tin Cans is a solid debut effort from a promising new band. There’s room for growth and maturation, to be sure, but there’s no reason why The Morning Benders can’t bring a little light hearted, sunny rock ‘n roll to your stereo this summer.Curt Whitacre
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