SNOWGLOBE - 'Our Land Brains'

Snowglobe
'Our Land Brains'
Bardot Records
info@bardotrecords.com
Snowglobe sounds like the kind of band that would play in your backyard as you make smores over an open campfire. Between a crispy acoustic guitar/drums combination and defined brass lies a soft, cushy center that invites you to sink your teeth in. This center is what makes Snowglobe the appealing band that it is. It's hard to pinpoint, but there is some magic between the members of this group. Snowglobe's guitar-voice-brass melodies, often backed with organ and piano, imply tackiness without fully embracing it. They leave us with about 6 immediately moving tunes between a couple of 30 second transitional fillers and the less prominent, but solid numbers that make Our Land Brains a good album. It plays well from start to finish, but you will probably still find yourself waiting for the standout tracks. "Waves Rolling" brings us in with a simple, guitar-based strum-along, and is followed up by the childishly innocent-sounding "Beautiful". This is a track that may be skipped on occasion, but it plays a special part in setting the tone for the rest of the disc. "Dreamworks" is the first song with real jukebox potential, and is characterized by an engaging beat and swooping melody. "Big City Lights" is a twisting tale of the comforts of friends. "Muse" may be the best song on the album, with brass hooks filling in the spaces of a shaky guitar. It brings lifting spirits that settle with the relaxing "Stubber". It's falling action from here on out. The final track, "Thriller" is litterally 3 shakes of a maraca, and the story is over. By this time, you are satisfied and ready for bed.