It's always nice to have a record come along that feels exempt from any current
hot musical trend and still manages to come away sounding successful
at
being
good. I Am Kloot are a good band, and they don't have to jump on a bandwagon
or fight their way off it to do so. They make simple, emotional Brit-rock songs
that are full enough to move you and infectious enough to keep you around. "Over
My Shoulder" is a jangly, shuffling song so catchy and impassioned, you can't
help but fall for it in all its bitter heartbeak: "Someone stupid asked me if
we were friends, well/ Over my shoulder it goes/ Back to a bar/ We both used
to know."
Riding on lounge-y jazz beats, "Strange Without You" is a disoriented, upset
song pushing to move on, while the folk-y, acoustic guitar-driven "Astray" feels
like a brief encounter with Bob Dylan. "Hong Kong Lullaby" features dreamy piano,
shimmery brushes with the hi-hat, and hypnotic effects aiming to lull you to
sleep.
In the dreary "Avenue of Hope," a trumpet cries and pedal steel wails
as
the
song
travels hopefully into the warm horizon, while the skipping, lighthearted "Dead
Men's Cigarettes" incorporates the playful sounds of cowbell and maraca.
No BIG message here; I Am Kloot simply made a good, heartfelt rock record and, without sounding like they had to try too hard, pulled it off.
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