Faded Seaside Glamour in Bloomington, MN

Had
Delays
arrived when the
Brit-pop
battle between
Blur
and
Oasis
was wooing music fans during the mid-'90s, their warm
pop
sound wouldn't have stood a chance. They would have gone the way of
Baby Bird
,
Cast
, and
Menswear
, praised for a few hit singles and later proving to the English press that they're more than just a fashion statement before finally fizzling out. Luckily the brothers Gilbert and the brothers Fox gave up that dream with their band
Corky
and switched formats for
.
Faded Seaside Glamour
trades in the band's dreary English roots for radiating waves and rays of '60s California
. It's a slick transition, an honest presentation soaked in
' crisp musicianship and the foursome's lush harmonies. From the steel drum ring of
"Wanderlust,"
instantly comes off genuine. Frontman
Greg Gilbert
delivers a lamblike falsetto, an intriguing arrangement that's both gentle and slightly unrefined, much like the sand and the sea itself.
take comfort in seeing the world through an aged set of eyes, and songs such as the amber lull of
"Nearer Than Heaven"
and the brisk acoustic guitars of
"No Ending"
accept an innocence lost. Still, enthusiasm glitters throughout
, and it's partly because of
Gilbert
's girlishly sweet vocals. Between that and the band's honest to goodness melodic tones, such an equation is hardly deniable.
"Long Time Coming"
flirts with these exact hints of wonder as does
"Hey Girl,"
the album's shiniest moment. Some of summer's tufts turn soft during the bulk of
and concluding its charming grace is the neo-psychedelic
gospel
of
"On."
All in all,
look beyond
Coldplay
's pretty heartaches and the luminous power of
Doves
. For what could have been a quick visit years ago,
showed up at the right time. ~ MacKenzie Wilson