The Painted Birds debut album has landed!
August 15, 2007Sometimes you shouldn’t review an album after seeing a band live first, just as you normally shouldn’t watch the movie before reading the book. I recently saw The Painted Birds play a great set at the Plaza in Vancouver and they blew me away with their passion, their musicianship, their ability to take the crowd into the palm of the hand and keep them there for the entire set.
First listen to So Much For The Rain and I hear the catchy melodies that caught my ear at the show. The Painted Birds manage to balance lead singer Dominique Fricot’s sensitive and passionate vocals with a band that is very musically talented without overshadowing the story. Overall it’s very well done. Every track makes me feel like I’ve heard it before, like an old song on the radio you haven’t heard in a while but don’t quite recall who sang it.
They do have a very radio-friendly sound on the album which surprises me. Their live show was crazy, loud and a little more aggro. A little more 99.3 The Fox while the record is a little more Top 40′ish. That’s not a criticism since I can see it helping the band pull in a wider audience as a result. Personally I hope they get around to recording a decent live record that captures their tight yet reckless live show.
My only real complaint with the album is the sound quality. There’s great songwriting combined with solid musicianship but the record sounds a bit thin, where you can imagine how fuller it must have sounded in the studio. Not much you can do about that I suppose, given it’s an indie band’s first album. The only thing I’d say is you should go see them live if you like their record even a little.
It’s hard to pick fave songs since they’re all so catchy but I’m A Radio, Tease, All I Can Do and the Coldplay’esque So Beautiful stand out for me.
The Painted Birds are touring the BC Interior right now. Check them out if you have the chance. When you do make sure you pick up their CD at the merch table.
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