Notes From The Underworld
General
| Dec 2006
Reviews
Natalie Ruiz Tofano
Reviewed 2007-04-06
Reviewed 2007-04-06
LOCAL! 2nd album from Oakland-based retro pop/prog rock band. First self produced LP, “City of Love” was nominated for best debut album at CMAs in 02. Also received a 2001 SF Weekly Award for Best Pop Band. Songs are mixture of dancey, retro indie pop w/heavy electro guitar based prog rock. Fem vox (Angelina Moysov – orig fr/Russia) are strong & sweet & have a foreign feel w/her accent. Generally I enjoyed the upbeat tracks more.
NO FCCs Picks – 3, 4, 5, 7, 2 -natalie
1 – happy pop w/cutesy sing along lyrics, jumpy piano; heavy guitar a bit much
2 – swaying and sweet pop, a little quirky w/electro bits and xylophone; sounds a bit like Belle and Sebastian/Camera Obscura w/a retro sound
3! – faster beat, more retro pop w/organ and percussion; great vocals on this song; really fun instrumental at end section with jazzy bass, guitar and organ
4! – the “single” track on this album; retro bossa nova/jazz sound w/prominent piano & organ; lyrics a bit boring, but great sound w/dancey bass
5! – yea! Silly motorcycle sound intro; retro spy music w/twangy surf guitar & soft vocals, along w/some electro space sounds; also, song in Russian
6 – mellower track, a little too sweet/poppy for me w/lyrics about being in love
7! – jumpy fast beat w/driving guitar & deeper vocals, another dancey or bounce around track; weird interlude where it fades out & back in
8 – another mellower track, soft/sweet vocals; lilting guitar but still a bit electro heavy; again, a little too sweet (for me)
9 – heavy, fuzzy guitar pop w/hint of blues rock; fast-paced beat & driving bass
10 – acoustic guitar intro, tapping percussion & spoken vox; transitions fr/heavy electro guitar to sweet piano pop; cheesy wailing guitar solo midway
11 – slow pop w/soft guitar & floating vocals, w/heavier drum/guitar interludes
NO FCCs Picks – 3, 4, 5, 7, 2 -natalie
1 – happy pop w/cutesy sing along lyrics, jumpy piano; heavy guitar a bit much
2 – swaying and sweet pop, a little quirky w/electro bits and xylophone; sounds a bit like Belle and Sebastian/Camera Obscura w/a retro sound
3! – faster beat, more retro pop w/organ and percussion; great vocals on this song; really fun instrumental at end section with jazzy bass, guitar and organ
4! – the “single” track on this album; retro bossa nova/jazz sound w/prominent piano & organ; lyrics a bit boring, but great sound w/dancey bass
5! – yea! Silly motorcycle sound intro; retro spy music w/twangy surf guitar & soft vocals, along w/some electro space sounds; also, song in Russian
6 – mellower track, a little too sweet/poppy for me w/lyrics about being in love
7! – jumpy fast beat w/driving guitar & deeper vocals, another dancey or bounce around track; weird interlude where it fades out & back in
8 – another mellower track, soft/sweet vocals; lilting guitar but still a bit electro heavy; again, a little too sweet (for me)
9 – heavy, fuzzy guitar pop w/hint of blues rock; fast-paced beat & driving bass
10 – acoustic guitar intro, tapping percussion & spoken vox; transitions fr/heavy electro guitar to sweet piano pop; cheesy wailing guitar solo midway
11 – slow pop w/soft guitar & floating vocals, w/heavier drum/guitar interludes
Recent airplay
City Of Love
KZSU Time Traveler — Mar 31, 2023
Queen's Night Out
Music Casserole — Mar 29, 2014
City Of Love
Deep Fried & Sanctified — Jul 08, 2008
Nice Day
Time Traveler — Dec 26, 2007
City Of Love
At Your Local Dive — Jun 28, 2007
City Of Love
Time Traveler — Jun 26, 2007
Charting
2007-04-08 — 2007-06-10
| Week Ending | Airplays |
|---|---|
| Jun 10 | 4 |
| Jun 3 | 1 |
| May 27 | 4 |
| May 20 | 5 |
| May 13 | 3 |
| May 6 | 3 |
| Apr 29 | 3 |
| Apr 22 | 3 |
Track listing
| 1. | Way To Your Heart | ||
| 2. | Climbing | ||
| 3. | City Of Love | ||
| 4. | Nice Day | ||
| 5. | Muzika Dlya Fil'ma | ||
| 6. | Even Though I'm Fooling Around | ||
| 7. | On The Earth | ||
| 8. | Walk To The Moon | ||
| 9. | Paper Plan | ||
| 10. | Queen's Night Out | ||
| 11. | Home |
