A. Rex
"Moving Backwards" CD
self-released
Genre: indie pop
June 2008 |
Centred around a 21 year-old math major named
Andrew Espinola, A. Rex is a lush indie pop band whose
rotating cast of musicians all share the same first name. A cute
gimmick for sure, but not the only notable aspect about these Eels-esque
popsters, who carve immediately memorable ditties out of guitar,
piano, and Espinola's Perishers-style breathy vocals.
Though a tad on the inoffensive side, Moving Backwards' lovely
songs are a perfect fit for sensitive music lovers who aren't too
stuck up to get down n' dirty with some gentle ballads. This album
seems to share a niche with The Perishers' Let There Be
Morning, though I sense a more Eels-y flair. This stuff
shows up a lot on TV shows and the like these days, so I wouldn't be
surprised if wide-eyed "Moving Backwards" or calming and parental "Old
Enough"
ended up on the closing credits of the latest WB show. Though the
middle two are definitely the best songs on here, also enjoyable are
"So Hard" and its lulling guitar strums, as well as pick-me-up
"Lower Than Low". Some tracks tend to drag a bit, barreling on without a melody
worth barreling on for (Sparklehorse-esque "Hold My Hand", "Still
Can't Accept That You're Gone"), but for the most part this is enjoyable, marketable pop music
suited for post-breakup stabilizing and bedroom self-reflection.
76%
Fun Fact: Espinola
about the band's formation: "The weirdest part of our band is how it
came together. For some reason only Andrews responded to my ads for
musicians. So, we ended up with a band full of Andrews." (from press
sheet)
Matt Shimmer
[Vitals: 10 tracks, distributed by
the band,
released 2007] |