I've still got a few 2014 releases that I'd like to mention here, probably; but let's start 2015 off with a review of something that just came out today.
Back in May of 2013, I caught Paper Streets at the show celebrating the physical release of their A Reoccurring Dream EP. The Everymen and Dentist were also on that bill, so I think I may have been there primarily to see one or both of them. I was pleasantly surprised, though, by the band of low key guys from Jackson. Since then, I've tried to get out to Paper Streets shows whenever I can; and guitarist Stephen Stec even did an awesome multi-part list of the top tracks to have hit #1 on the Modern Rock charts for us here a while back.
After a bit of a hiatus from playing out, Paper Streets got out there again in the spring of 2014 and started re-honing their chops. They went into the studio to record with Andy Bova of Dentist, and the result is Souvenirs. In short, Souvenirs captures the sound that I knew Paper Streets could bring all along.
Early single "Murmur" opens the set. If you go back to Stephen's list, then the jangly guitar that starts off the track makes a whole lot of sense. The song soars on some dreamy swells with guitarist / vocalist, Cody Ste Marie, hanging a little further back in the mix than usual.
"Do you think three years is long enough for you to get happy?" is some Cure-inspired post punk, Cody kind of willing someone to believe, "I still have something to offer..." The rhythm section of Lou Carao (bass) and Anthony Meleo (drums) shines through the wall of guitar to give things just the right feel.
Live set staple, "Straight Lines," opens with a late-90s / early-aughts octave-y riff that underpins the entire song. The vocals are more up-front, Cody straining on, "I just can't seem to work things out." The song gets a nice, expansive treatment here with some doubling of the vocals and layering of the guitars.
"While We Were Tired..." closes things out on a relatively quiet note, building from some easy-going drumming into some classic-indie-inspired dream pop. It made me think a little bit of commuting back home to our place in Seattle over the I-90 bridge from Redmond.
It's been a lot of fun watching Paper Streets evolve over the last 18 months or so. They're a great bunch of guys messing around with some sounds that are squarely in my wheel house. Working with Andy Bova -- whose own band hits several sweet spots for me as well -- has helped guide them to the place that I've heard them heading all along. It's a good place.
You can stream / download (as a Name Your Price offering) Souvenirs over at Paper Streets' Bandcamp page.
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