Boy Meets Girl
Posted January 05, 2009
By IronJedi,
First: this isn’t the Waterdeep you’re used to, especially if you associate the band with folk-influenced, modern acoustic worship. Secondly: that’s not a bad thing as the Chaffers (Don & Lori), who form the core of the band, take the opportunity to uninhibitedly loose their musical muse. Pink and Blue is a collection of contrasting juxtapositions expressed musically, lyrically and emotionally- beginning with the male/female allusion of the title.
The musical tempo of Mrs. Chaffer’s half of Pink and Blue wanders between a lo-fi 70’s pop vibe and unpretentious punk but never strays from the indie rock sound embraced by bands like Paramore and Arcade Fire. Her sparse, breathy soprano conveys gut-level honesty touched by delicate melancholy; and stands in contrast to the bright, driven liveliness of the music. The “Blue” half of the album finds Mr. Chaffer musically meandering between indie rock and alterna-folk with a liberal dash of Americana thrown in for good measure. His vocals and delivery stands in contrast (go figure) to Mrs. Chaffer’s, meandering between self-assured observation and husky musing, conveying a subtle urgency. Both halves are tied together by the raw, perceptive and matter-of-fact lyrics that offer reflections on life.
Pink and Blue is a series of artistic snapshots that fall across a broad spectrum of Waterdeep's two creative leads' experiences. It’s conceptual and experimental, but remains accessible. If you’re a fan of direct, intelligent, and quirky music from artists that dare to color outside the lines on occasion (re. The Shins, Sufjan Stevens, Over the Rhine, Jon Foreman, Iron & Wine, David Crowder Band’s more eclectic endeavors, and Arcade Fire), don’t hesitate to get this album A.S.A.P. View All Music And Book Reviews By IronJedi | View IronJedi's Profile
|
