Curtains For You
After Nights Without Sleep
Spark & Shine
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Link: http://www.curtainsforyou.net/

Historically, when all hope is lost in the present, people will look towards the past for answers. More than a musical trend, artists are progressively looking for inspiration away from the bleak confines of Top 40 Radio. To simply ignore the recent musical resurgence of the “retro-genres” would be misguided. The White Stripes and The Black Keys have “retro-rock” by the throat but Curtains For You can claim “retro-pop” all to themselves. Well…for the moment anyways.

Seattle based Curtains For You find solace in drawing parallels to 60’s pop such as The Beach Boys (Brian Wilson psychedelia years), The Beatles and The Kinks. These influences are readily apparent on the first track “Daisy.” Soaring drums meshing with subtle Flanger EQ guitar strums, this five-piece achieves far beyond nostalgic jams. “What Good Am I To You Now?” swoops in with ease on the wings of Mike Gervais’ crisp falsetto and crooning rich vocals. There definitely is the signature surging chorus structure of The Beatles but with an individualistic indie power-pop injection. Curtains For All are not merely copycats as each song structure may be vintage but yet it incorporates a modern sound that is oddly refreshing.

“The Wasteland” is the album’s centerpiece, relying heavily on the Fab Four’s designative harmony manipulation (prevalent on Abbey Road – notably “Day in the Life”) and ambitious songwriting. The studio mix is proficiently structured and an orchestra helps romance the lyrically somber undertow; “Keep telling yourself that the concrete beneath you, will just swallow you whole one day.” Gervais is a former winner of a John Lennon Songwriting Contest. After hearing “Wasteland” and its poignant lyrics, that bland fact becomes nearly ironic.

Curtains For You seem out of place in the modern world of mass production with glossy CDs and the hollow technological wonderment that is downloadable digital audio formats. After Nights Without Sleep belongs on vinyl; collecting dust and nestled between The Beatles Rubber Soul and The Beach Boys Pet Sounds in the back of a Goodwill somewhere. Obviously it would be too premature to put them with such legendary company. Brilliant songwriting with cerebral execution was needed to craft a retro-classic such as this and that won’t be overlooked for long. With the proper growing resume; bands thirty years from now, issuing the ultimate form of flattery, may be imitating Curtains For You.