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 03/2012

    SNOW PATROL
    Fallen Empires

  • reviewed 05/2011

    DAVID BAZAN
    Strange Negotiations

  • reviewed 01/2013

    VARIOUS
    Django Unchained: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

  • reviewed 04/2011

    NEIL DIAMOND
    The Bang Years 1966-1968

  • reviewed 02/2008

    HOT CHIP
    Made In The Dark

  • reviewed 06/2012

    THE BACON BROTHERS
    Philadelphia Road - The Best of The Bacon Brothers

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.