In a world where emotional, “life-sounding” music seems to have been subcontracted to a few bands (eg Pinegrove and Adrienne Lenker/Big Thief), Another Michael come as a fresh breath of air. The Philly-acquired band has just released their debut LP, New Music and Big Pop, the result of all of them moving in together in a shared apartment in the city.
A simple but remarkable story, which sets the mood of the record, which sounds as if you were friends with the band, or wished you were. The band looks squarely across to the misconception that, if you want to go deep into emotions and life, you should sound sorrowful and pensive and present a light-footed album, full of endearing tunes.
Obviously, the single “Big Pop” stands out with its clear power-pop, slightly Teenage Fanclub vibes, while “I Know You’re Wrong” is their cheerful take on a Pinegrove single. The style, overall, reminds a bit of Oh No Oh My’s People Problems (“What Gives?”).
As a result, the existential side of it all comes in surreptitiously, as in beautiful “Row” (with the memorable line “Well ha, will you look back when you’re seventy-five?”).
Sure, there are lapses here and there, such as the slightly grey “I’m not Home”, but overall this is another big hit by Run For Cover.
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