Verse

構成数 : 1
合計収録時間 : 00:37:25
Personnel: Chris Lee-Rodriguez (vocals, guitars, bass synthesizer); Michi Tassey (vocals, piano, keyboards); Matt Hull (trumpet, flugelhorn); Sander Bryce (drums, percussion); Sai Boddupalli (programming). Audio Mixer: Chris Teti. Liner Note Author: Yuri Herrera. Recording information: Silver Bullet Studios. Photographer: Suma Hussien. Since releasing their debut LP in 2016, Boston indie quintet People Like You have undergone a significant sonic transformation. Having previously leaned far more heavily on their emo roots, they embrace a newfound sense of grace and subtlety on their 2017 follow-up, Verse. The toned-down intensity allows a great deal more breathing room for trumpeter Matt Hull, whose nimble dueling with founding guitarist/singer Chris Lee-Rodriguez adds credence to the band's self-credited label of "indie/jazz." Also softening People Like You's aggro edge is incoming keyboardist/vocalist Michi Tassey, whose airy lilting voice takes the lead on the lion's share of Verse's complex yet tuneful tracks. Even with its cascading riffs and stuttering rhythms, the album boasts a spaciousness that works to the band's credit, setting a warm thoughtful tone that unfolds gradually throughout its 11 songs. Pairing a spry math rock approach with elegant pop hooks, opener "You Need a Visa" is an early highlight whose appeal is marred only by the jarring emo man-wail tagged onto its last seven seconds, a throwback to their earlier sound which, given the sophistication they've achieved, now just seems barbarous and unnecessary. The mix of sunniness with slight melancholy that permeates standouts like "Thumbnail" and "Variations on an Aria" much better suits People Like You, who also flash their instrumental chops, stretching out on a trio of improvisational pieces that appear under the heading "Kneeplay." While there are stumbles here and there -- lyrical foibles, pacing, transitions, etc. -- Verse is the sound of positive growth and evolution from a talented young group. ~ Timothy Monger