Genre: Pop / Indie

01 A Thousand Curves
02 Cross of Wages
03 Underground Music Artist
04 Please let this Go on Forever
05 Happy to see Astrid
06 Slump on the Liko
07 Jumpin' a Red Light
08 Euphonium Fishgarden
09 Our Little Secret
10 Colours

It seems that with every batch of promos I get in to review, our beloved owner Malahki slips in at least one album that he should know by now will be torture for me to listen to and actually finish. This time, it was Marshall Smith's debut offering, "Colours". This is a brand new band, on a brand new label. Marshall Smith's sound can best be described as "old school jam band rock/pop." Filled with surfer guitar licks and almost Elvis-styled vocals and lyrics at times, the listener is brought to a state of nostalgia; whether he or she likes it or not. This is very uplifting, happy music. Likewise, the lyrics are kind of goofy. Classics like "I'm nailed to the cross of my wages, went down like a sack of potatoes" would normally put me in the mood to tear this band a new ass through this lovely little literary article known as a review. However, to be quite honest, they are very good at what they do.

That's right, while the genre does not exactly fit my fancy, I really cannot sit here and allow myself to be biased. This album is very well mixed, with plenty of little parts of ear candy for the audio sugar fiend. There really isn't much out in the mainstream today that can be compared to this style. The closest that I have heard anyway is that annoying song by Lit, "My Own Worst Enemy" that has stuck around the airwaves for much longer than the average single's life expectancy. However, that track is a bit "heavier" and more uptempo than most of Marshall Smith's material. Also, if you are very familiar with the late John Peel, he was apparently a big fan of Brown and Hunt's mid-80's combo, "A Witness".

So realistically, for the music lover, this album really isn't bad whatsoever. "Colours" is very catchy, fairly artisticly stimulating, and above all else, it stays true to itself. It is, indeed, colorful and vibrant. Songs like "Underground Music Artist" definitely have a very laid-back but prismatic atmosphere, all the while making you tap your foot to the beat. Now if you'll excuse me, i'm going to go listen to my hateful satanic black metal again. I need to get this poppy shit out of my head. Good stuff, just not my cup of tea personally.