This one's for you, indie rockers.
Memphis-based band Imagination Head has crafted 13 lyrically mature tracks into a solid debut CD called The Stale and Sparkly Air, a random tapestry of words strung together to create vivid images that evoke everything from alienation and need to serenity and happiness.
The album's mellow acoustic melodies and longing vocals make it perfect porch swing listening. Just don't completely drift off into indie heaven, because singer-guitarist J.R. Wicker's lyrics demand attention.
His songwriting doesn't often tell a story as much as it paints a picture.
Poignant lines like "Together we are left/ to watch our silhouettes/ melt harmlessly down/ against the bed," and "Each story in a way/ a sacred hunting place/ where we met our sleeping selves/ and shake them awake," are sprinkled throughout, nourished by keyboardist Erin Baker's vocal harmonies.
Wicker's voice is reminiscent of Neil Young's, and it carries the album, but the band could be any acoustic-folk-indie act you've ever come across. Sometimes, particularly on "Age of Crap," both Wicker and the band sound like they could be Modest Mouse in disguise.
While the band behind Wicker is pretty stock, Baker does shine on several occasions, as with her super catchy keys on "Country vs. Country."
The album ends with a ridiculously long track - we're talking 28 minutes here folks - whose second half starts off sounding like something The Beatles might have cooked up on acid, and ends up sounding like Bob Dylan in a trash can.
Tip of the hat to the band for being different, but the clanging notes and grating vocals aren't worth the headache.
Even so, fans of acoustic/indie rock should not miss out on this band or this album.
Though Wicker may sing "I'm always on my way" for now, if he keeps doing what he's doing, the music business will be the place he finds to stay.
