Blushing : " Sugarcoat"

 

The intro is cool, but the first actual song finds the band living up to the album's title;e and draping sugary sweet pop over the shoegazing ambiance. Dream pop is the first handy label to throw on this Texas-based band,  but they do seem more serious about rocking out than most dream pop bands. They at times remind me of a shoegazing version of Veruca Salt, with how the vocals harmonize and entwined. Things swirl around you so it can be hard to tell who is doing what. "Slyce" has more of a 90s drive more in line with what Curve did, but with a more optimistic point of view less bound by sex and drugs. 

"Silverteeth" finds the guitars denser, yet no less woozy from the effects slathered over them. The guitars touch on an almost Smashing Pumpkins sound, that is without the harder rocking aspirations. One of the album's most impressive moments is the bass line that anchors the title track in a darker place. This gives a sweet atmosphere the vocals float in more of a dynamic contrast. The slither of the bass adds a sonic depth that more bands need to tap into when attempting to capture this kind of sound. "Fizz" has a little more of an indie rock drive to its jangle as the more My Bloody Valentine sounds drip from the periphery. It works for this song but also finds the band in the zip code of the other shoe gaze revivalists. 

They continue to take you on the tour of their influences as somewhat Cocteau Twins-like sounds dance past your ears in a lighter more carefree manner. It sounds good, but the song itself is not as focused as what we heard in the first half of the album. "Pull You In Two" has more pop in its heartbeat. However, it still drifts a bit with the wanderlust that empowers their overall sound. The hushed feel of the verses of "Charms" provides a better shift of dynamics when it comes to the chorus.  They last song might not be the catchiest but the thick ambiance is balanced with enough melody to make this work and get the more melancholy mood across which I prefer to their more playful moments. I will give this album a 9.5 , and see how it grows on me, if you want dream pop that takes notes from the best, while still doing it's own thing this band is for you. 

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