FESTIVA CD REVIEW: The Brunettes - 'Paper Dolls'
Until I had the album Paper Dolls in hand, I hadn't heard of The Brunettes. When I popped the CD into my player and listened, I was surprised that, as an indie pop fan, I hadn't stumbled upon them sooner.
The New Zealand group has been around since the late '90s, but it wasn't until 2005 that the band broke the U.S. barrier on a tour with The Shins. The Brunettes then joined Rilo Kiley on tour, and then released 2007's Structure and Cosmetics in America.
That said, The Brunettes were still new to me a week ago. "Red Rollerskates" has a quirky electronic, oddly disco sound to it. On my first listen, I hated it, but I found myself going back and playing the song over and over.
"Crime Machine" had me going back and forth on whether I liked the Mates of State-meets-Devo sound, but every time I gave the album another spin, I ended up skipping over the disjointed song.
Finally, I found what I was looking for in this disc: balance. Jonathan Bree, the other half of the duo, had a chance to shine in the title track of Paper Dolls. His haunting voice is reminiscent of early Depeche Mode.
Beyond the halfway mark in the album, I thoroughly enjoyed the soft, lilting songs that combined Bree's deep tone and Heather Mansfield's sweet chirping.
My favorite track, “Magic (No Bunny)” is the album’s most whimsical, a trait the band is known for.
Though I'm showing up way past fashionably late, I'm a big fan of The Brunettes and their ode to playful '60s pop (with a wink to electronic and nod to punk).
