the Beaches : "Blame My EX"

This Canadian indie rock has a great pop sensibility to what they do. Their hooky lyrics get real while making fun teenage pop culture life. They proclaim to not let them near your dad, and they you to blame their ex Brett. "What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Paranoid"  works of  the clever passive aggression that propels HAIM to the top of the charts. These gals are listening to the Smiths rather than Fleetwood Mac, which factors into the cutting lyrics. This also plays a role in the melodic jangle of guitar that makes up these songs. The fact they are releasing this album independently means they are writing these infectious songs without the aid of a team of producers, while they are shoulder to with the likes of Miley when it comes to weaving these melodies together. 

This is not to say all they touch is perfect. "Everything is Boring" works for what they are doing , but does not have me as submersed in their spell as the first three songs. "My Body ft Your Lips" takes a lazy stroll through sexuality and drug use. "Kismet" is more playful but not as effective in the mood it creates with it's upbeat strut. The lyrics are almost silly. "Shower Beer" keeps the party going in a better direction than the previous song. The tense jangle of the guitars works really well. It is hard to know which of the lyrics are a joke or a serious declaration of who they are. 

I really like what she does with her voice on the verses of "Edge of the Earth" . The vocals fit just right over the almost disco-inspired riffs. I guess being a bass player helps her in this regard, as she is also locked in with the beat vocally as well. Not the most impressive range, but she found herself in all the right places of the song at all the right times. The acoustic strum of "If a Tree Falls" finds the band making the most of this change in mood. The vocals are really well produced, and this is done without an entire team of producers. 'Cigarette' has an almost post-punk celebration in the release of its tension. I will give this album a 9.5, it's a lot of fun, and worth repeat listens for sure.