Russ Hockenbury
07/04/06, 04:58 PM
The Morning Benders – Loose Change
Release Date: September 19, 2006
Label: Portia Records
I’m not sure when the whole sounding like you recorded your album in some 1950s hole-in-the-wall recording studio/soda fountain/appliance store fascination started, but I think that trend has attended its last sock hop. I mean, as much I love Saturday Looks Good To Me, I can’t imagine anyone listening to one of their albums for more than ten minutes without being incredibly stoned or so damn pretentious it takes Elliott Smith himself to remove the Excalibur-like stick from their Pitchfork readin’ ass (NOTE: I am aware of the irony in ME calling someone pretentious).
Somewhat ahead of the type of music mentioned above, Chris Chu and his band The Morning Benders play a style of pop-rock that’s a decade or two past the poodle skirt generation. Make no mistake, Chu still spends a lot of time in the “Oldies” section of his local record store and like bands such as Saturday Looks Good To Me, his sound is best suited for the grainy buzz of vinyl. Alive! Records refers to it as “The Natural Sound” and thus every cd they pump out is designed to resemble a 45. Compact discs were invented for crisp production and sound quality. The angle Chu and crew are going for gets lost in the translation to modern technology. For that reason, I would like to see Portia release Loose Change on vinyl.
Warning given, the kid from Berkeley (where else) can write a catchy tune or two. The title track “Loose Change”, features an old-timey bass line and punchy hook suitable for a lazy July afternoon spent reminiscing about lost love and missed opportunity. Additionally, the willowy “Grain of Salt” would fit right in amongst the easiest and breeziest of Ace Enders’ catalog. So, give The Morning Benders a chance before handing the record off to your grandparents.
Varsity sweater rock: “Loose Change”, “Grain of Salt”
Hey there, kitten. How’s about a soda?: The Beatles, The Early November, The Strokes
Release Date: September 19, 2006
Label: Portia Records
I’m not sure when the whole sounding like you recorded your album in some 1950s hole-in-the-wall recording studio/soda fountain/appliance store fascination started, but I think that trend has attended its last sock hop. I mean, as much I love Saturday Looks Good To Me, I can’t imagine anyone listening to one of their albums for more than ten minutes without being incredibly stoned or so damn pretentious it takes Elliott Smith himself to remove the Excalibur-like stick from their Pitchfork readin’ ass (NOTE: I am aware of the irony in ME calling someone pretentious).
Somewhat ahead of the type of music mentioned above, Chris Chu and his band The Morning Benders play a style of pop-rock that’s a decade or two past the poodle skirt generation. Make no mistake, Chu still spends a lot of time in the “Oldies” section of his local record store and like bands such as Saturday Looks Good To Me, his sound is best suited for the grainy buzz of vinyl. Alive! Records refers to it as “The Natural Sound” and thus every cd they pump out is designed to resemble a 45. Compact discs were invented for crisp production and sound quality. The angle Chu and crew are going for gets lost in the translation to modern technology. For that reason, I would like to see Portia release Loose Change on vinyl.
Warning given, the kid from Berkeley (where else) can write a catchy tune or two. The title track “Loose Change”, features an old-timey bass line and punchy hook suitable for a lazy July afternoon spent reminiscing about lost love and missed opportunity. Additionally, the willowy “Grain of Salt” would fit right in amongst the easiest and breeziest of Ace Enders’ catalog. So, give The Morning Benders a chance before handing the record off to your grandparents.
Varsity sweater rock: “Loose Change”, “Grain of Salt”
Hey there, kitten. How’s about a soda?: The Beatles, The Early November, The Strokes