Puddle City Racing Lights

Piano-based singer/songwriter fare. At its best, it's got the sound of a downcast Polyphonic Spree trying to cheer itself up. (2,3,5,7). At its worst, it's heavy with self-seriousness, just this side of "Total Eclipse of the Heart" territory. Squeaky-high male vocals make many tracks hard to take seriously, and the lyrics are only one shade above high-school poetry. Could be used for a mellow break in any pop show, although the heavyhandedness could bring your pacing to a dead halt.

Matthew Thomas Dillon, the UK-based singer who's behind all this, seems like a nice enough, sensitive enough guy. But, even though he's 28, he comes across like a teenager trying real hard to sound all grown up. I found it unconvincing.

1- *FCC* in the spoken conclusion. Mid/fast, interesting spoken-word and choir additions. Anthemic chorus.
2- Heavy, sad airport-goodbye song.
3- Huge drums, some synth touches. Big, cathartic, after an ineffecive piano-figure intro.
4- *FCC* in the chorus. Dumb, dumb lyrics (Hint: Don't use the "Newsflash" expression if you're trying to sound serious and poetic.)
5- Cute chorus and synths. Big midtempo chorus.
6- Serious piano, nice crescendo
7- Huge commercial sound with choir; shades of Polyphonic Spree grandiosity.
8- Slow and sad; heavy on the strings
9- *FCC* nice intro though
10- Serious; emotional but overdone.
11- Nice big sound; whiny repetitious lyrics
12- *FCC*
13- Loud mid/fast, a bit of rock attitude. Faint, goofy intro.
14- Big powerful concluding track, huge epic sound.