Are You Thinking What I'm Thinking?

The Like's debut album, Are You Thinking What I'm Thinking?, has nothing to do with their teenage counterparts and a little something do with their famous fathers. It's only natural that one would consider the work of Mitchell Froom, Pete Thomas, and Tony Berg while sizing up the dream pop-influenced sound of the Like. However, this band delivers an impressive 13-song set that's reliably original and streamlined. Vocalist Z Berg sounds older and wiser than her youthful years, a near vocal ringer for Harriet Wheeler and Chrissie Hynde. Her (and the band's) girlish confidence is both endearing and smart. The punk strands in "What I Say and What I Mean" and the layered acoustic guitars and lush harmonies of "Once Things Look Up" capture the Like's maturer presentation. Their range of influences are fluidly spread throughout, particularly on the earthy indie rock highlights of "Too Late" and "We Are Lost." "The One" and "Mrs. Actually," two daydreamy, brokenhearted moments, add to the shimmering beautiful canvas of Are You Thinking What I'm Thinking? Producer Wendy Melvoin had the right touch with this album, empowering the Like to feel good about standing apart from everything else. ~ MacKenzie Wilson