Power Ballads

Oklahoma guy, David Terry, offers a collection of pop songs that use indie vocals, synth melodies, drum machines, piano, and guitar. The formula that comes most quickly to mind is looper (beats) + the rentals (synth) + built to spill (vocals). The self-reference to XTC, flaming lips, and modest mouse is self-flattery. Even with several attempts at being artfully quirky, the album should be more appreciated as a number of catchy pop songs that have some nice moments of indie melancholy. There are definitely songs worth having around on a mixtape here. Think also of apples in stereo. 4, 5, 1, 7, 8.

1. drum machine + piano + pop vocal melody a la magnetic fields
2. they might be giants, if that’s your cup of tea.
3. relatively upbeat casio (that I own!) driven rhythm section.
4. sad acoustic + voice with louder end. almost the microphones.
5. midtempo, guitar + catchy (and loud) synth melody. built to spill vox.
6. upbeat acoustic guitar, drum machine, synth instrumental
7. nice melancholic melody, prominent drum machine.
8. down tempo, more noises than other songs, upbeat pop at end
9. acoustic + sad voice. great at first but horrible chorus.
note: song actually ends after 3:35 minutes not 6:43 as indicated
10. begins at 2:00. piano+synth then soundtrack pop song a la looper.