North Elementary’s new LP, And Every Color You Have Ever Seen, opens with staccato guitar
lines and words of encouragement and optimism: “I know
you’re dreaming of something / well I don’t care what it is / as long as you’re
dreaming of something.” I’m not
great at interpreting (even hearing, really) lyrics, but I'd translate that as: DO something, MAKE art, MAKE the world a
better place. It’s up to you!
…Color has lotsa
psych-y vibes and straight-ahead power pop, and even swerves into southern rock
territory at times. As in earlier
albums, North Elementary’s music is laced with ‘80s Brit & ‘90s American
indie (I hear Versus and Built to Spill this time ‘round, especially the latter
in Dems Da Breaks). They pull all this diversity together into
what is really a cohesive and non-derivative sound.
This collection makes for a really great (if a bit early) summer album,
especially cuts like the jumpy Slippin’
Into the Sun and the stoner haze of Waste
a Day. What the hell, start your
summer early.
North Elementary celebrate this release with a great line-up at the Cat's Cradle Backroom, tonight, 4/7/14. The Wyrms, S.E. Ward, and Reflex Arc open.
