Only Really Thing, The

Electro-pop-dance-punk with female vocals. Feels like voodoo with twisting melodies and catchy beats. The band hails from Canada, and you'll certainly see some of the strange chord progressions and harmonies familiar in other bands like Arcade Fire or Of Montreal, but Spiral Beach is much more than that. Lots of energy, synths, drums, great music to dance to. This is definitely not feel-good music. No FCCs

***1.Techno scales with energetic beats and forceful lyrics. Strongest song on the disc. You might just have to jump out of your DJ chair and dance along.
2.Jingle bells make a soundbed for this repetitive but fun track. Great chorus, but not quite as energetic as some tracks.
3.Think surfer music played in cut time. Driving beat and driving lyrics (no. no. no. no. no. NOOO). Nice spooky riffs and some back-up choral elements.
*4. Sweet bluesy bassline with one of the most cohesive melodies on the CD. Lots of power fusing rock ballad with big band.
5.Acoustic track with harmonies ala Fleet Foxes with dark, creepy, lyrics with excellent sound dynamics which carry the angry tone of the piece well. Abrubt Ending.
***6.The Electro-Snake-Charmer. Spooky, spunky, a chilled out, well paced song. Playyyy itttt.
**7. Deep bass dance piece with fast drums and overdriven guitars. Has a far east feel to it, but definitely rocks. Imagine riding a merry-go-round that's going a little too fast, and you'll know how this song feels.
*8.Southern Rock with harpsichord. A purposeful piece with deep throated vocals. Soulful.
9.Fast moving nonsensical vocals with wobbly guitars. If the Bangles were surfers, they would be this song.
10.Urgent guitars, unexpected melodies, mind opening. Not as danceable as other songs. Kind of like a bad mood on a mission.
11.Rock organ and individually picked guitar, with just a hint of serial-killer-playing-musack kind of ambient background noise. Fun.
*12. Another acoustic number, more creepy lyrics, more creepy chord progressions. Great for those who lean more on the folk side of pop music. Arcade Fire would like this song.
13.Drudging, grim, and now with 50% more dragging chains! About an old lady in a rocking chair, I think. Very spooky and slow, but very interesting. A great song to end an album or a show with.