The Rosebuds "Birds Make Good Neighbors" (Merge)
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Wednesday. Sep 21, 12:02 AM
Sunshiny pop that hints at better things to come.

Being married and in a rock ‘n’ roll band can sometimes have mixed results. It didn’t really work out too well for The Mamas & the Papas, and I don’t seem to notice any current acts trying to emulate Captain & Tenille. Right? But if a more recent example such as Mates Of State is any indication, then there’s still hope that a musical husband and wife act can be pulled off. Enter The Rosebuds.

On their sophomore album, Birds Make Good Neighbors, Ivan Howard and Kelly Crisp put together a collection of quality pop songs. Still, as effective as the songs are, they seem to lack a bit of an edge. Don’t get me wrong, there’s no denying their abilities as songwriters, as their lyrics tell stories in a way that’s reminiscent of what each must’ve grown up listening to in rural North Carolina. Their melodies aren’t all that bad either, but even if it’s not necessarily The Rosebuds’ style, there just aren’t any songs that jump out at you and make you notice what a good band they have the potential to be.

The band seems to be at their best when they go for a quieter, more hushed sound. “Bluebird,” perhaps the best song on the album, is a perfect example of this, as it tells a story about leaving the city to live in the country. “Warm Where You Lay” is another very good song, as it softly tells of a couple who’re very comfortable being together. The same happy-to-be-together theme shows up on “Shake Our Tree,” leaving little doubt that Howard and Crisp are pleased with the way things are going thus far in their relationship.

Songs like “Boxcar,” “The Lovers’ Rights,” and “Let Us Go” all go to show that, again, The Rosebuds can create quality pop songs. Unfortunately, on tracks like “Leaves Do Fall” and “Outnumbered,” they move away from what seems to work and mix in some hints of country music. Like their storytelling abilities, the inclination to lean toward country is probably a result of their childhood (Howard’s mother even spent some time as a country singer in the ‘70s), but it’s something they’d be better off leaving behind.

So what’s the final verdict on The Rosebuds? Still too early to tell, in my opinion. I’d say they’re worth looking into, and if you like what you hear, then stay tuned for their next album, which will hopefully give a little bit better idea of the direction they’re heading in. As long as Howard doesn’t start wearing a skipper’s cap and they don’t decide to cover “Love Will Keep Us Together,” I think everything will turn out okay.
www.therosebuds.com
www.mergerecords.com

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Mike Butz

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