| Heavy Changes |
| Soft Sounds Album Review |
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| Ric Menck tried to lower my expectations. He told me that he wasn't sure what Velvet Crush fans would think of Soft Sounds. Then he told me there was a delay in releasing Soft Sounds because even after two years of recording, Paul Chastain was still tinkering with some of the tracks in his home studio. Then there was Parasol's description of the album prior to its release: the 'bummer to end the summer' comment, the odd choice of covers... basically, I had no idea what to expect from Soft Sounds. A psychedelic pop headtrip a la Mercury Rev? The Velvet Crush's own Yankee Hotel Foxtrot or 3rd/Sister Lovers? Actually, for all the intrigue and uncertainty about Soft Sounds, the Velvet Crush's fifth album is their warmest, most accessible album to date. It may also be their best. That's right, even as good as Teenage Symphonies To God. Teenage Symphonies is a classic, but there aren't that many albums out there like Soft Sounds that are this heartfelt, this human. If you were to take the quieter, gentler moments from Teenage Symphonies and Free Expression, and subtract the, well, wimpiness from the early Hey Wimpus Choo Choo Train recordings, that kind of gives you the short description of what Soft Sounds is like. But enough generalities, let's get to the songs... Soft Sounds opens on a positive note, with "Staying Found" and "Don't Take Me Down", two songs released on the Japanese-only Timeless Melodies compilation. As I've mentioned before on these pages, "Staying Found" is one of the VC's most Beatle-esque songs, featuring a sublime guitar part that evokes the ghost of George Harrison. "Don't Take Me Down" has an easy rollin' vibe and a seemingly effortless melody that would have fit quite nicely on Free Expression. Then things start to get interesting. A cover of the Box Tops' "Rollin' In My Sleep" features Ric Menck on lead vocals for the first time in over a decade, actually his first lead vocal ever on a Velvet Crush track. The song, about playing in a travelin' band, is an apt choice for a musician as well traveled as Ric, and the tune fits his singing perfectly. Following the short-but-sweet "Some Kind Of Light" is a cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Save Me A Place". While not as revealing as the other two covers on the album, the tune is a winner and the band seamlessly incorporates the song into its repertoire. I won't say much about "In Your Time", "Forever, For Now", "She Goes On" and "Vanishing Point", simply because the tracks are all equally fantastic and enormously tuneful. Even after a couple dozen listens, I still can’t choose my favorite track on the album. In fact, of the band's own original compositions on Soft Sounds, I'm guessing there will not be a consensus among the VC faithful about which song is the standout. However, I would be remiss in not mentioning "Duchess". This cover of an old Scott Walker tune practically defines the album in the same manner that "Why Not Your Baby" did for Teenage Symphonies. And like that Gene Clark tune, "Duchess" will also have you scouring for a Scott Walker cd. "Duchess" features the most amazing production, sounding like a jukebox 45 from 30 years ago. Paul sings this lament of lost love in a huskier voice as he did on "Why Not Your Baby", making the song the band's own. Those Velvet Crush fans who picked up the "Gentle Breeze" cd single were privy to a demo version of a song called "Party Line". The song was obviously not fleshed out, and it didn't really sound like a "Velvet Crush" song. On Soft Sounds, "Party Line" becomes fully realized with a samba rhythm that (I assume) Ric pulls off magnificently, giving the song shape and form. "Late In The Day" ends the album on a haunting note, strung throughout with a distorted guitar line that sounds not unlike Yo La Tengo. The song’s coda, with the constant distortion combined with spare piano and Paul's multitracked harmonies, makes for a perfect closer to this melancholy masterpiece. What’s amazing about this band is its ability to release albums of completely different character, and yet have them all fit flawlessly into its artistic vision. Soft Sounds is no exception. Those listeners expecting upbeat rockers like “Drive Me Down” or “Hold Me Up” will be disappointed. But whether they’re rocking out or mellowing out, the Velvet Crush has always been about songs of pain and uncertainty and hope. Soft Sounds provides the perfect frame for those songs. |