..Cataldo - Signal Flare
July 2008
Self-Released
Score: 8.3/10

"Another indie-folk solo artist to bore me to tears!" was the thought I had as I started spinning Signal Flare, the sophomore effort by up and comer Eric Anderson under the name Cataldo. But wrong is an understatement the size of the sun. Anderson has put together eleven songs that run the gamut of slow love duets to group sing-alongs catchy enough to make you want to throw up. Filled with love and warmth, Signal Flare is an album that doesn't care if you listen to it. But you won't be able to resist.

While Cataldo is the magnum opus of captain Eric Anderson, without his shipmates composed of guest players and singers the S.S. Signal Flare would be a sinking ship. There are group vocals and harmonies for days on the album, each contributing guest's vocals play perfectly against Anderson's calm, collected voice. Most of the songs are acoustic driven, banjo and keys often find their way onto the songs. The opener, "Tendon and Skin" starts with keys that sound like it came out of an episode of Peanuts, only to be joined by building drums and acoustic guitar set off perfectly at the end with group "woahs" and an awesome horn section. Following this is the banjo and string filled "6′6″ and "Black and Milds," easily the standout track on Signal Flare. Handclaps and group sing-alongs are in abundance on this track, making it a perfect track on a summer playlist.

The music on the album is beautiful. It is simple, but effective. Everything falls into place, whether it be the glockenspiel on "An Acey From a Deuce" or the clean electric chords Anderson plucks on the title track. Lyrically, most songs carry the same characteristic: love. "I Do" is the most prominent of these love songs, it is a slow duet with an unknown female vocalist, following what seems to be a couple getting married. A simple chorus of "I do, I do, I do, I do, I do" and "years ago I never said I'd buy a queen sized bed over too many drinks/lord knows how I've got four pillows but two of them would fit your pretty dents perfectly/do you think we could take those vows anew" make this evident. The group vocals are excellent, meshing with Anderson's vocals. They build an almost folk-punk dynamic with plenty of "woahs".

Signal Flare is a great album, making me wonder why in the world Cataldo is still unsigned. Labels, take note. It's embarassing that bands like 3OH!3 and I Set My Friends On Fire are signed and a band that is making actual music that makes you feel is not. It's doing the world a disservice. Signal Flare is definitely one of 2008's best. So, if you're a fan of Bon Iver or Kevin Devine, pick this up immediately. You'll thank me later.

-Blake Higdon