steering clear of the mainstream
since 2001

june 2010

review
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info opinion

Calliope

"Sounds Like Circles Feel" CD

Thick Records

Genres: psychedelic folk, indie pop, indie rock

Thick Records
PO Box 220245
Chicago IL 60622

May 17 - 23 2004

Sounds Like Circles Feel will be enjoyed by almost everyone who listens to it.  Over the duration of nine songs - some pretty long, and some sort of short - Calliope has created a wonderful acoustic folk-pop album.  Comparisons to The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Wilco, and perhaps even a less spacey Yo La Tengo can all be made.  As far as modern pop music goes, this is about as good as you can get - Calliope is nowhere near pretentious, yet still original and "hip"-sounding.

Sounds Like Circles Feel has a cozy, uplifting atmosphere to it, and this lovely approach is certainly refreshing.  Opener "What I Think You Mean" is a simple, infectious standout track; its basic melody is far from complex, but it does the trick.  "Midwest Life" and "Monsters in Here" are even more substantial; the former is the album's "epic," clocking in at five minutes.  It's a crisp, pretty pop tune with a slight folk tinge in the guitar background.

As far as pop releases go, this is one of the better discs to come out in recent history.  While Calliope's unassuming style won't make them superstars, it should win over a nice selection of dedicated, music-loving fans.  Sounds Like Circles Feel exhibits both entertainment and class.

88%

Matt Shimmer

[Vitals: 9 tracks, distributed by the label, released 2004]