Soft Friday

Coves took their time releasing their debut album, Soft Friday. Instead of cranking out a set of songs as soon as some buzz began around them, Beck Wood and John Ridgard honed their blend of garage-y glamour and psychedelic atmosphere with several years' worth of singles. Their patience paid off: Soft Friday reveals the pair as a band inspired by like-minded duos such as the Kills and Raveonettes as well as evocative masters such as Echo & the Bunnymen and the Jesus and Mary Chain, but not overly indebted to them. The singles that built up anticipation for the rest of their debut remain standouts: the way "Cast a Shadow" pairs snarling, sitar-laced rock with delicately trippy interludes is still striking; "Last Desire"'s sexy stomp gives a harder, irresistibly catchy edgy to their sound; and "Beatings"' spooky heartache is bolstered by clever wordplay and dramatic production that sounds ethereal and driving at the same time. Elsewhere, Coves' flair for drama sometimes outpaces their ability to write memorable songs, but Soft Friday's best moments are so good, and its overall sound is so vibrant, that it's a more than promising debut. ~ Heather Phares|