Sharks and Minnows
"The Cost of Living" CD
Two
Sheds Music
Genres: indie rock, indie pop
Two Sheds Music
PO Box 5455
Atlanta, GA
31107-0455
Oct 25 - 31 2004 |
Put simply,
Sharks and Minnows is a band with a strong sense of
melody. Their songs' success rests on their catchiness, and
fortunately The Cost of Living keeps the hooks coming.
Their style is typical indie pop/rock with a general accessibility
that will enable it to appeal to just about anyone. In terms of
comparison, S+M fit in with the cheery, carefree school of pop
- think The Wannadies, Ashley Stove, and perhaps a less
angsty Paris, Texas. This is music to be alive to, if you
will.
The Cost of Living's best songs are those that make their
"mark" upon the first listen. Ultimately, all of this
disc's songs will be stuck in your head at one point, but true
treasures like "Arlington #4" and "Slow Learner"
(which sounds a bit like Enon's "Natural Disasters")
convey their loveliness right off the bat.
Like any good pop album, The Cost of Living has its fair
share of upbeat, energetic numbers, as well as slower, calm
songs. "Sunday Driver" and "Small Song" fall
into the former category - they are two very strong pieces of music
that are sure to draw smiles from a listener. "Baby
Boom" and "Nightblindness," meanwhile, are more relaxed
and slow-paced - they aren't necessarily the disc's best songs, but
they are still remarkably enjoyable.
This is one of the best pop releases I've heard in a
long time. Sharks and Minnows were a complete unknown to
me previous to The Cost of Living, but they've quickly become a
personal favourite.
89%
Matt Shimmer [Vitals:
16 tracks + 1 hidden, distributed by the
label, released 2004] |