Next time someone tells you they don't make pop records like they used to, prove them wrong and point them in the direction of Irish pop celebrants
Pugwash
.
Thomas Walsh
and his bandmates have mastered the fine art of approximating classic pop and gentle psychedelia of the '60s and early '70s, and
Walsh
writes songs good enough to pass for covers of classic British acts of the era in dim light, mirroring their melodic splendor rather than reworking familiar cliches. The group's sixth studio album,
Play This Intimately (As If Among Friends)
, is not as rich in guest appearances from pop universe luminaries as some of
's previous album (of course, having
Andy Partridge
and
Ray Davies
pop by to do backing vocals is nothing to sneeze at), but in the truest sense this demonstrates just how talented this band is. By their lonesome,
(on vocals, guitars, and various keyboards),
Tosh Flood
(guitars and keys),
Shaun McGee
(bass), and
Joe Fitzgerald
(drums and percussion) are capable of re-creating a number of musical worlds, from the clean but swaggering rock of "Kicking and Screaming" and the languid psychedelia of "We Are Everywhere" to the faux-exotica of "Clouds" and the country-folk charm of "Oh Happy Days," and while nearly everything here harkens back to another time and place,
make it sound fresh, immediate, and directly from the heart. (And the production from
Flood
is ideal and unobtrusive.) Some bands trade in second-hand nostalgia, but
have used myriad reference points from the '60s and '70s to create pop music that's beautifully crafted, fresh and thoughtful, and best of all, lots of fun.
could use a few more uptempo rockers, but considering how good these 12 songs are, there's little real room to complain, and
prove that yes, some folks really are making 'em like they used to, and with the same skill and honest love of a good melody. ~ Mark Deming