My Sweet George

My Sweet George is the first album from the L.A. indie pop band George is Lord, whose repertoire is derived exclusively from the songs of George Harrison, during his years with the Beatles as well as his solo work. On My Sweet George, they filter Harrisons melodies through their spare, sunny, and easygoing folk-influenced arrangements, with the lead guitar of Sam Blasucci (best known for his work with Mapache) adding the closest thing to flash this band delivers. Theres a sweetness to these performances thats truly engaging, and the groups love of the material is obvious from first note to last. This doesnt represent a deep dive into the Harrison songbook -- three of the tunes come from his time with the Beatles, and out of the rest, only one didnt first appear on All Things Must Pass ("Dark Sweet Lady" came from 1979s George Harrison). These are songs you likely know by heart, and the LP sounds as friendly as a hug from your bestie, full of the laid-back charm of some friends strumming on the patio on a Sunday afternoon. George is Lord are fans who sing these tunes for love, and this set is a fine reminder of the Quiet Beatles enduring talent as a songwriter. ~ Mark Deming