by Michael Toland
3 May 2009
California’s
A.M. VIBE shivers in the embrace of a dual love. On the one hand, bandleader
LISAH NICHOLSON and her crew float and jangle with the best of bands like the
SUNDAYS. On the other hand, they fry amps and daintily scorch the landscape like
SLOWDIVE
at its shoegaziest. I’ll admit I prefer the latter approach – “Don’t
Wanna Stay” and “Hold On” sit well with the work of their dreampop
idols. Even the more twee songs work, though, as Nicholson avoids the
sing-song vocal style of her forebears for more straightforward
readings of tunes like “Countdown” and “V.” The pretty folk rock of
“Black Dogs” and the gorgeous balladry of “The Sea Song” vary the tone
somewhat, though they’re certainly in keeping with the rest of the
record. The strength of Nicholson’s songs makes any stylistic dithering
irrelevant in any case. A lovely record.
http://www.amvibe.com
http://www.plantingseedsrecords.com
Filed under shoegaze indie-pop