Princeton
(Kanine Records)
This Los Angeles-based band originally formed when twin brothers Jesse and Matt Kivel, along with their childhood pal Ben Usen, were still in school and studying abroad in London. When they graduated they returned to California and released a few hard-to-find EPs before signing with Kanine Records and releasing this, their first full-length.
Mixing together a love of chamber pop, show tunes, jangly indie pop, darker, more Cure-influenced material and, what sounds like , a serious love of the Magnetic Fields ("Korean War Memorial" sounds exactly like something that could have been off Get Lost) the band rarely fails to impress no matter what genre they're mining. Opening cut "Sadie & Andy" has sweeping strings and cool, detached vocals while "Show Some Love When Your Man Comes Home" slows it down to a crawl and adds some romantic, r & b horns. "Calypso Gold" will make every kid on the indie pop list drool uncontrollably with its sweet, sweet melodic rush (though, a bit too precious) and the soaring, curiously named "Martina and Clive Krantz" is one of the band's best tunes (as is the waltz-y "Sadie"). The band seems to have no lack of confidence and with songs this strong all eyes should be upon them for their sophomore record.
Standout Tracks: "Martina and Clive Krantz", "Korean War Memorial", "Calypso Gold", "Sylvie" TIM HINELY
