Recess Serenade

Rate It! Avg: 3.5 (25 ratings)
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Recess Serenade album cover
Album Information
EDITOR'S PICK

Total Tracks: 10   Total Length: 36:43

eMusic Review 0

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Stacy Flatt

eMusic Contributor

04.22.11
A great album for someone looking for heart-stopping harmonies, keyboard-accented pop and smart lyrics.
Label: the Argument / CD Baby

Rarely does a band come along that truly deserves a comparison to the seminal '90s power-pop group Jellyfish, but the Argument are that band. Their four-part harmonies pack a tight punch in "Speak My Mind" — a love song written from the point of view of a cat. The lyrics all tend to be rather clever, from a song about playground puppy love to a song about the hesitations of moving in with a girlfriend. Besides the tight harmonies and surprising lyrics, the Argument make nice use of keyboards — from piano to synthesizers to a Wurlitzer. Recess Serenade is a great album for someone looking for slick, heart-stopping harmonies, great piano and keyboard-accented pop with smart lyrics.

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No jellyfish here

wbcxmidniteradio

.....unless you count the typical pop chord progressions and syrupy arrangements that are found on every AM pop worshiping band. It's all good, but this is certainly not a great album and does not even come close to the sound textures of Jellyfish.

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feh

jtd

In many of these tracks, I do hear the Jellyfish comparison in the arrangements, the glossy production and the Andy Sturmer/Jason Faulkner-like vocals. Unfortunately, it's so blatantly Jellyfishy it's actually a turn-off. Ironic, considering Jellyfish wore their influences on their sleeves; the difference is they managed to pull it off. In that respect, this record's pretty disappointing. (Oh, and yes, a few of the tracks do sound like typical FM commercial-alt garbage.)

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jellyfish??

mirkoruckels

Jellyfish this band ain't. Here I was, so excited by the review, waiting to get maybe a similar dose of sweet pop jellyfish bliss, instead i hear bland fm rock. NEXT! listen to cherry twister or brendan benson if you want anything remotely closer to jellyfish.

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