Irving
Death in the Garden, Blood on the Flowers
Eenie Meenie
2006
Rating: 6 polka dot bikinis out of 10
Be it music blogs, local weeklies, or whatever, perhaps it’s just me but it seems like this LA-via-SF band of merry popsters known as Irving has been touted as the “Next Big Thing” for some time now. It’s not surprising really – they are deft songwriters, competent musicians, and most importantly in this day and age, they are a handsome lot of lads. Yet despite this, they still languish in the underground to the befuddlement of many, including myself. Now I’m no super fan of the band, but I like them well enough that it wouldn’t hurt my feelings to hear them getting played on the radio more than most of the dreck that gets airtime nowdays.
Sadly, this isn’t their strongest outing – both their previously released “I Hope You’re Feeling Better Now” EP from 2003 and the 2002 full-length “Good Morning Beautiful” were catchier, more engaging outings. But that’s not to say this one is bad –mostly, it finds the group in a seemingly more subdued & pensive state. It has its bubblegum Beulah-like moments and sneers like the Dandy Warhols on occasion, but it is the laid back pop that defines the album, a sound I can’t pin to any one group but is very reminiscent of the non-ironic 80’s pop that most of us grew up on. Despite not being their best record it’s still an album worthy of checking out if you are at all a fan of quality pop music.
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