JASON ANDERSON
The Wreath
K records
· The Wolf Colonel gets a promotion.
As Wolf Colonel, Jason Anderson could ably pack more crunchy pop brilliance into a 48-second song than most could shoehorn into an entire album. When he dropped the nom de plume and released New England last year, the result was considerably more ambitious and less frivolous. It seemed as though Anderson was growing up, and while the songwriting was more sophisticated and the sounds he made were quite daring, the result didn’t have the immediate resonance of his earlier material. With The Wreath Anderson has found a happy medium, creating an outstanding collection of songs that rely on substance as much as hook.
Whether he is armed simply with an acoustic guitar (as on "If I’m Waiting") or backed by a full band (as on "Citizen’s Arrest," complete with tambourines and heart-melting female backup vocals), Anderson is consistently in top form. As hinted at on his contribution to 2004’s Intercontinental Pop Exchange for Endearing Records, Anderson can create cheerful melancholy and fresh nostalgia. It’s a delicate balance to be sure, but he is clearly up to the task and The Wreath stands as a high point in an already stunning career.
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