Album Review: Introducing White, Blue and Yellow Clouds
by 
dklein on December 15th, 2007
White, Blue and Yellow Clouds
Introducing White, Blue and Yellow Clouds
I and Ear Records
With the first notes of White, Blue and Yellow Clouds’ debut album, a sunny wave washes through the speakers and as the doo-wop vocals chime in it’s hard to resist smiling. The happy vibe shines through the first two tracks, but on the third, “Lovers Never Say Goodbye,” things turn more sober.
“Lovers Never Say Goodbye” is stripped down, with just a few plucks of a guitar and some male and female vocals. The effect is a bit jarring after the first couple of cheerful and musical songs. The shaky vocals contribute to the overall effect, proving that the White, Blue and Yellow Clouds certainly know how to do sad.
The rest of the album is decidedly tilted more to the depressing side of things, with multiple break-up songs making appearances, but that doesn’t make it any less beautiful. The groups’ influences shine through, from Sam Cooke and the Flamingoes to Saturday Looks Good To Me, even having that band’s Fred Thomas sing on some songs. Other notable guests abound, including string instrumentalist Jessica Pavone.
Songs like “Seeing Stars” and Hushabye” bring the sock-hop era to the forefront and while the album does have a retro quality, the overall feel is still somewhat fresh and original. White, Blue and Yellow Clouds are at their best with more upbeat tunes. Somber songs like “Goodbye” and “…And Clouds” have a way of turning into background music, albeit depressing background music. One can’t help but think that Grizzly Bear does a more creative interpretation of doo-wop on their latest EP Friends with “He Hit Me,” but Introducing White, Blue and Yellow Clouds stands out as an original debut from a promising group of musicians.
Tags: album-review, grizzly-bear, Introducing-White-Blue-and-Yellow-CLouds, new_album, White-Blue-and-Yellow-Clouds| 2.5 |
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