Crooked Coast’s new sophomore CD Wildlife is an infectious, hard-pop treat for the ears. Everything on this Cape Cod band’s CD seems ready for radio play. The melodies soothe. The vocals tug at the ear. The choruses are as catchy as can be. Backing and harmony vocals are like a second coat of icing on the cake, flavoring everything up with brightness, charm, and another reason to like this disc.
It begins with a chanting title track, “Wildlife,” from a live show before it segues into “Go Back,” a reverential look back at one’s childhood while also realizing one cannot “Go Back” to those days. “Go Back” has a motivational drum beat, an engaging, anthem like chorus, and its guitar line is a lively, breezy affair that keeps things interesting.
“Icarus” is another pleasant pop ditty. This one has a bouncy beat and jaunty guitar line. Its greatest strength, aside from the infectious guitar work, is its amicable, flowing lead vocal. The singer pulls one into his ideas with his clipped delivery and his call to let him go. There is a lot of motion in this song and that feeling that the song is taking you somewhere makes it even more happening.
“Domino” glides forward with an easeful lead vocal, a blipping guitar line, and a rhythm section that keeps it peppy. The song becomes sweet ear candy as it moves along. The lead vocal seems to sail along a steady breeze while guitars continually play alluring lines and gentle riffs.
“Had A Ball” bursts into the listener’s consciousness with some feisty guitar chords. A bouncy lead vocal, one that practically raps the lyrics over an infectious pop-rock backbeat, moves at a brisk clip and engages with its quick delivery of wit.
“No Caroline No” is a bit edgier. Its guitar chords are darker and a bit thicker. Yet, the lead vocal that glides over this pop ditty is just as sweet and infectious as the rest of the CD. And that’s a good thing. Interplay between the lead and backing vocals weave another texture to engage the listener and make him want to listen even more closely to this tune.
“Martyr” has a nice twisty guitar line, carrying one forward with is flinty, sugary momentum. A bass guitar shadows the six string with a gentlemanly line of its own. One cannot help but get caught up in the hefty drum beat that alternates between a lighter and heavier smack. The lead vocal on this track makes good use of a second wind, a way of putting more emphasis on specific verses. That keeps this song feisty and fun.
“World Spins” grooves right in with infectious drum work and cool bass applications. A light guitar line bounces up in just the right places and makes this down tempo cruiser edgy, sharp. At this point in the disc, it no longer surprises the listener to hear a clean, pure vocal line. Here, the singer sustains his final word of each verse, heightening the drama of the song while keeping things clean and pretty. A rapper makes this line even cooler, giving the listener the best of two worlds, pop-rock ditty and urban wise rhyme schemes.
“Tell Me (You Want Me)” has a bouncy guitar chord and a bleating guitar line that weave a fine intro. Listening to these players lay down their modern pop-rock sounds adds intrigue about their process. The guitars contrast with each other deliciously while the lead vocal makes its plaintive case for a little bit of love. Drum fills hold the various sections of this song together with rollicking fun while this ditty cruises down the high of romantic hope and longing.
“Smile For The Camera” gets a funk-rock feeling from the rapped lyrics, flinty guitar chords, and a stomping march from the rhythm section beneath it all. The tough guy lead vocal is coarser here and that keeps people focused on his intensity. This number moves through its changes with an undeniable attitude, one that nobody would ever want to run into a dark alley. These boys sounds like tough muthas and they play it even tougher.
“One gets pulled into “Dreamer” by the engaging cool rap that leads. The rap becomes the star with its rapid delivery of its street wise lyrics. There is also some cool musicianship going on. A smooth bass line carries the show while an electric guitar pushes this forward with hefty chords.
Crooked Coast close out their disc with “Comin’ Down,” a slightly roots flavored tune a mild down home on the range feel from its guitar twang. The lead singer is a bit chirpy when he sings about coming down for a Sunday vist. One can feel the longing for home in the forlorn electric guitar gristle in the background. The drums turn the wheels of forward momentum, at a mosey pace that complete the vibe of this song perfectly.
The boys in Crooked Coast have come up with a winner their second time in the studio. They are sure to pick up interest from old fans, make new ones, and have something to pave their way at local radio stations.
