Winter Gloves

"About a Girl" CD

Paper Bag Records

Genre: indie rock, indie pop

Montreal, Canada

Oct 9, 2008

Montreal's Winter Gloves play slick, melodramatic indie rock heavy on keyboards and falsetto-based choruses. What sets them apart from other such bands is their emphasis on melody; About a Girl is a memorable, engrossing album that is easy to get attached to. Opener "Factories" is probably the album's most ready-for-the-masses single - it boasts a speedy rhythm and a professional city-at-night vibe that would fit well on a bill with fellow Montrealers The Arcade Fire and Wolf Parade. Also stupendous is pretty yet urgent "Hillside" with its vaguely Pinback-esque melody, while jovially momentous "Party People" and glistening slower number "Glass Paperweight" round out the album's highlights. Of course, About a Girl also suffers from its share of filler. What the title-track has in intensity, it lacks in hooks; meanwhile, "I Can't Tell You" attempts triumphant but winds up flat. Clearly, though, these are acceptable missteps for such a young and promising band. It will be interesting to see what lies ahead for Winter Gloves. Will they be another local one-shot or is there a future in store? As it stands, About a Girl is a melodic and welcoming album that's easy to digest and a joy to savour. Check these folks out live, and pick up a record while you're there.

winter gloves' myspace

84%

youuuuuuuutube!: "hillside" live, "let me drive" live

Matt Shimmer

[Vitals: 10 tracks, distributed by the label, released Sep. 9, 2008]