Labels: Polyvinyl
Review by: Andy Malcolm
Apparently Paris, Texas feature some members of a band called None Left Standing, and I think someone who used to be in that band is now in the Promise Ring. So perhaps it should come as no surprise that Paris, Texas ply you with tunage of the pop variety. The similarities are there for all to see. But who cares when they have a song as bouncy and catchy as “Dating A Dancer” (now there’s a title that Braid meant to use if ever I saw one).
Yeah, PT aren’t doing things entirely their own way, but they’ve indiefied up the style at times to great effect. It’s a bit like they’ve taken old 60’s pop songs and just modernisied them and applied a bit of emo-pop/rock stylee guitar. “One Heater” opens it up and is quite Braid-y in it’s messy pop structure. Dead toe-tapping and strangely catchy, with vocals that for some reason make me think Jarvis Cocker (they sound a bit ‘out of it’). Irrelevant this next bit, but recently on Channel 4 there was a film review series called “Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang”, and I thought that would be a cool name for a band doing this sort of music. “One Heater” uses those words in it’s chorus. I said it was irrelevant.
“Dating A Dancer” has a chorus of pure exuberant pop genius, although my Mum seemed to think it was just a noise. The song bounces a long with a giant smile on it’s face. If the Beatles played emo-pop today, this would be one of their songs. Dance kid, dance! “In The Back” is laid back indie rock, with a more urgent chorus. “Without Even Kissing” rounds off this collection of 3 minute wonders in a similar vein. But it keeps mutating, through indie to pop rock and then to Braidcore to finish up.
Only gripe – the songs at times are a bit flat due to production, give the boys some money and they’ll be rockin’ even more. This kicks both my indie *and* my pop ass. Hmm, 2 butts?