From
Jeff Gramm
's innocent and sentimental mini-song
"Intro,"
it's instantly clear that
Topsiders
marks a new era for Washington, D.C.'s,
Aden
. The maturation of
Gramm
and company is evident throughout, with their graceful poise and nonchalant
indie pop
seeming tighter than ever on this disc.
seems to be even more confident in his soft vocal approach. The most single-ready track might be
"Pop Song,"
with
Cheryl Huber
's co-vocals serving as a breathe of fresh air. The banjo twang of
"River's Rising"
marks new territory for
, while
"The Chase"
is as graceful and smooth as any of the band's previous efforts.
"Boggle Champ"
is inarguably the most rousing and potent track on the disc. It's followed by another back-porch reflection, the painfully short
"Smiles and Frowns."
"Intertwining Hands"
was a natural album-closer. It's
putting their best foot forward, with its sentimental lyrics and summery instrumentation leading the way. On
, the band added
Matt Datesman
on drums to the already stable lineup of guitarist/vocalist
, and guitarists
Kevin Barker
and
Fred Kovey
.
Sasha Bell
of
Essex Green
Ladybug Transistor
guests on two tracks. The album was recorded in Maryland and New York. It was released by
Teenbeat
Records in mid-2002. ~ Stephen Cramer