Whenever an artist puts out a smashing EP, the inevitable cry is "bring on the full-length". San Francisco's The Bye Bye Blackbirds burst onto the scene in 2006 with the high-quality Honeymoon EP, and two years later, the full-length has arrived. Houses & Homes was worth the wait, as they build on the indie-pop/power pop sound of Honeymoon and take it to the next level.
"The Ghosts are Alright" leads off the disc, and the band is alright as well. A jangly number that's as much Byrds as Beulah, it never wears out its welcome at 5:02. The absolutely lovely "Shed The Skin" follows, reminiscent of Elliott Smith and complete with "Because"-like ethereal backing harmonies. "In Stereo" channels the Go-Betweens, while the plaintive "Edge of Town" brings to mind the mellower moments of Big Star such as "What's Going Ahn?". Elsewhere, "Original Streets" flirts with a Latin feel, especially with the trumpet, and "Leave a Light On" is a wondefully melodic indie pop number. Despite the horrible real estate market, these Houses & Homes are holding their value.
Kool Kat | MySpace | eMusic
