 Tears
In X-Ray Eyes
"Wonderfully Made" CD
Chocolate
Hearts
Genres: indie pop
Chocolate Hearts
PO Box 554
Philadelphia PA
19105
Jul 19 - 25 2004 |
Albums like Wonderfully Made make you realize how much great
indie pop falls under the radar every year. This eight-song disc
is not perfect all the way through, but it does house some pretty
impressive tunes. Tim Closs, the man behind Tears In
X-Ray Eyes, has a talent for memorable, somewhat familiar-sounding
melodies that really get in your head easily. The first half of Wonderfully Made is undoubtedly the
best. "Sleep Like a Dream" and "In These
Arms" are two of the most infectious pop tunes I've laid ears on
in awhile - both have a comforting, Eels-esque quality to them
that is really appealing. "In These Arms" especially
sounds like it could become a minor hit, despite its melancholic
atmosphere. "Wherever You Are (You'll Find Me There)"
is another solid track; its folky, chiming pop sound is simply
irresistible.
The second half of the disc is a bit less impressive.
"My Strange Love" is a solid but unexciting piece of pop,
while "Science Fiction" is ultimately forgettable. The
last two tracks, "Who's Gonna Hurt You Now?" and
"You'll Know a Good Thing (When It's Gone)" are a bit
better; the former is in definite Eels / South
territory, while the latter has a nice spacey quality.
Altogether, Wonderfully Made is a very impressive pop disc
with a unique, dreamy sound. Lovers of South, Sparklehorse,
Eels, et al should certainly take note.
87%
Matt Shimmer
[Vitals: 8 tracks, distributed by the
label, released 2003] |
