Sometimes it's cool just to sit back and bask in the wonderment that pours through my headphones. Everett Young plays conceptual pop rock music, stuff with understated hooks and a wicked wit. Songs that are constructed piece by piece and then meticulously finished by a master craftsman.
Reminds me a bit of the most recent New Order album (you know, the really good one that no one actually heard), or maybe some of the Pet Shop
Boys' more graceful moments. There is, of course, the fact that these pieces aren't electronically created. But nonetheless, there's a certain soaring quality to these pieces that brings echoes of that sort of sound. And, strangely enough, Young's use of orchestration brings a lushness that electronic acts often try to replicate.
I have a feeling that I'm simply failing at my task here. Young has created a truly stunning work, the sort of album that can be played over and over without even a chance of burnout. The execution sounds effortless, which is all the more amazing considering how much work went into making these songs the gems they are.
Like the notes on his web site say, few people even try to write music like this these days. Truth is, very few folks have ever tried--it's just that we remember those that succeeded. Young has not only succeeded, he's triumphed. This is one of those albums that cannot be forgotten.
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