THE FRESH & ONLYS

House of Spirits

2014-06-16

   House of Spirits is the fifth release from San Francisco band, The Fresh & Onlys. For this one, the band explores sub-genres of the alt-rock sound.  At times keyboards back morose vocals, a-la mid-80's new wave ("Home is Where").  Other times the vocals sport 00's-style indie rock reverb ("I'm Awake", "April Fools", "Candy"). Yet at other times the songs have fuzzy shoe-gaze guitar ("Bells of Paonia"). Then there is the garage rock of "Hummingbird".  These songs seem to ride the cusp of these sub-genres of rock, with the band never fully embracing the sound.  All the songs have an underlying blandness.  Perhaps its the continuity of Tim Cohen's vocals that ties the songs together in this way.  All in all, this album is listenable, but there is nothing here that makes me want to take a second listen.      

Rebecca Ruth   

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #Rock

  • reviewed 01/2009

    THE BIRD AND THE BEE
    Ray Guns Are Not Just the Future

  • reviewed 10/2008

    WINTERPILLS
    Central Chambers

  • reviewed 11/2016

    Glitch Code
    Gifted_Damaged

  • reviewed 12/2006

    AMY MILLAN
    Honey From the Tombs

  • reviewed 03/2017

    Modern English
    Take Me To The Trees

  • reviewed 08/2008

    BENJI HUGHES
    A Love Extreme

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.