THE FRESH & ONLYS

House of Spirits

2014-06-16

   House of Spirits is the fifth release from San Francisco band, The Fresh & Onlys. For this one, the band explores sub-genres of the alt-rock sound.  At times keyboards back morose vocals, a-la mid-80's new wave ("Home is Where").  Other times the vocals sport 00's-style indie rock reverb ("I'm Awake", "April Fools", "Candy"). Yet at other times the songs have fuzzy shoe-gaze guitar ("Bells of Paonia"). Then there is the garage rock of "Hummingbird".  These songs seem to ride the cusp of these sub-genres of rock, with the band never fully embracing the sound.  All the songs have an underlying blandness.  Perhaps its the continuity of Tim Cohen's vocals that ties the songs together in this way.  All in all, this album is listenable, but there is nothing here that makes me want to take a second listen.      

Rebecca Ruth   

Quick Links:

• The Fresh & Onlys Website
• Mexican Summer Website