CONRAD
Never Would Have Guessed We Were All Blessed
Swoop Discs
· Vancouver four-piece bring the glitch on stellar sophomore release.
In 2001, Conrad’s blend of alt-country pop didn’t have the teeth it needed to be heard over the other bands trading in jangle and twang. But now, by focusing squarely on the pop part of the equation, they’re in a whole new league. Conrad still play easygoing roots-rock, but it’s buried under so many layers of feedback, perfectly processed glitch and unabashed melody that even when they haul out the harmonica, it adds texture instead of washing into the background. If you stripped down "Bigger Machines" it could play just as well with a lap-steel solo, but Conrad open and turn it into a melancholy summertime anthem. "Ending 1st" offers an ominous intro before settling into a laid-back groove, and much of the album ventures into ’90s indie-rock territory with the band building up songs like Galaxie 500 or offering intricately layered laments in the style of Murmur-era R.E.M. The result is infinitely more interesting than their past efforts. Hopefully fans of Conrad version 1.0 make the leap.
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