CD Review of High Society by The Silver Seas
Recommended if you like
Jackson Browne, Van Morrison, the Beach Boys
Label
Cheap Lullaby
The Silver Seas: High Society

Reviewed by Mike Farley

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S
ometimes you have to go for a walk in order to trip over a stone. And sometimes great music stops you in your tracks like that stone would, and makes your ears perk up like you just heard something amazing, but weren’t sure. You listen more, and you’re convinced that what you’re hearing is magical. What you are hearing is compelling pop bliss. What you’re hearing is Nashville band the Silver Seas and their sophomore album and Cheap Lullaby debut, High Society.

The comparisons will strike before you even read the fine print: Jackson Browne, the Beach Boys, Van Morrison, James Taylor. Let’s throw in ‘70s-flavored artist of today Josh Rouse, as well as alt-popsters Jellyfish, and if you have any allegiance to this style of pop music, you’re going to take the Silver Seas in like a long-lost friend.

Lead singer and songwriter Daniel Tashian is one of those guys that churns out ear candy while everyone else is sitting on the toilet, or maybe he’s coming up with ear candy on the toilet. The point is, this guy writes stuff that is going to make you jump up and take notice instantly. Case in point is the opening track, “The Country Life,” a jangly ditty that resembles Jackson Browne or Van Morrison fronting Pure Prairie League. But after that fastball comes a slew of curves and changeups. The title track is a slow, pulsing track with breezy, lush harmonies. And “Ms. November” is an example of why the Silver Seas might be like a late-bloomer who, once he became a rock star, got the hot girlfriend.

“She’s Gone” has dark undertones and really cool piano embellishments, but like everything on High Society, an uplifting chorus. “Catch Yer Own Train” is about the closest this band gets to its Nashville twang roots and “We’ll Go Walking” is the kind of song you might hear in a movie’s love scene – pretty and crooner-esque with the simple sentiment, “We’ll go walking/With really no place to go.” “Hard Luck Tom” is bouncy and awesome like the opener, with “The Broadway Lights” helping to turn out the lights in fine fashion.

It’s hard to hide enthusiasm over great music, and there’s no reason to, so we’ll say it: This isn’t just the album of the year, it’s one of the best of the decade.

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