Review

Goldenboy's second album is a solidly crafted work of indie pop that touches on many aspects of that sound and, apart from a few hiccups, satisfies on many levels as it has hooky songs, emotional performances, and a very warm and inviting sound. The intimate feel of the album is what draws you in first; the duo of Shon Sullivan (vocals, stringed instruments, and keys) and Bryan Bos (drums and percussion) are helped by a few friends like Lisa Germano on violin and Matt Sharp on occasional bass and backing vocals, and they do a fine job of layering acoustic guitars, vocal harmonies, and the occasional touch of strings and horns. Sullivan's lead vocals never get much past a whisper, but they end up packing a very melancholy punch. Indeed, most of the songs are minor chord love-lost songs, by the end of the record, you may be wishing you had put on something sunnier. If you are in the right autumnal mood, though, tunes like "Blackbird at Heart" or "Ice Breaker Blues" will be as satisfying as the first trace of burning leaves in the air on a chilly September day. While the mood of the album holds steady somewhere close to "on the verge of tears," the variety of indie pop styles the duo access makes the album a wide-ranging aural treat. Tunes like the road trip-ready country rocker "Summer of the Evening" or the British-sounding "Motorbike," which features Sullivan at his most Morrissey, sound like they could have come from different bands. Same with the singsongy acoustic rocker "Goodbye Erica" and the dream pop ballad "Perfect One." The only stylistic diversion that doesn't work, and in fact almost ruins the album, comes on the fifth and sixth tracks of the album ("I'm Still Down" and "Blackbird at Heart," respectively), which are so similar in tone and approach to Elliott Smith that it feels like grave robbing. Sullivan mimics Smith's vocal right down to the cracks, and it's less of a tribute than a ghostly (and ghastly) ripoff. Why Goldenboy chose to do this when their own sound is so strong is a mystery, especially since, without the two songs in question, Underneath the Radio is a really impressive record. With them, you'll need to do some editing to get the same result. If you are a devoted fan of indie pop and its many variations as mastered by Goldenboy, it's well worth the effort though.