Pop Culture 101 : With Michael Peters
  • Home
  • About
  • Works
  • Pop Culture
  • Film
    • Film Analysis
    • Film Reviews
  • Music
    • Music Reviews
    • Music Analysis
  • Reading
    • Print Articles
    • Fiction
  • Contact
Pop Culture 101 : With Michael Peters
  • Home
  • About
  • Works
  • Pop Culture
  • Film
    • Film Analysis
    • Film Reviews
  • Music
    • Music Reviews
    • Music Analysis
  • Reading
    • Print Articles
    • Fiction
  • Contact
Music Reviews,

Graham Wright- Shirts vs. Skins

by mikepetersJune 12, 2012
0
Shares
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
A93

Album: Shirts vs. Skins

Label: File Under: Music

Rating: 3.5/5

 

Graham Wright’s Shirts vs. Skins is power-pop at its most casual. Driven by an effortless, free-flowing vibe, Wright’s debut LP (In 2008, he released his first EP entitled The Lakes of Alberta) is a curiosity-piece reveling in simplistic bliss.

As is the case with most side projects (Wright is the keyboardist in Tokyo Police Club), the sound and style differ greatly from the indie rock aesthetics of TPC. Here, Wright embraces a quirkiness buoyed by (adolescent) self-reflective lyricism and folk-infused poppiness.

Bordering a very thin line between annoyance and intrigue, Shirts vs. Skins focuses on sweet, sugary ensconced mini-ballads that proudly embrace a dopey, yet endearing, sentimentality (No better exemplified than on “Keys to the Kingdom”).

“Heavens Just For Moviemakers” and “Soviet Race” are jovially eccentric tracks that rely heavily on catchy pop hooks that are shameless in their ability to superficially satisfy.

But superficiality has its limits, and though most of the tracks are light-hearted, honest and momentarily gratifying, its candy-coated structure tends to wear off quite quickly.

In the end, Shirts vs. Skins is ultimately undone by a lack of meaningful substance. Though it is grounded by a sincere innocence, it’s nonetheless an album that is undermined by sophomoric pop expressions of the heart.

Previous

The Head and the Heart- (Self-Titled)

June 12, 2012
Next

The Go! Team- Live Concert Review

June 12, 2012

Related posts

50aa
Music Reviews,

Magneta Lane- Witchrock

by mikepetersJanuary 14, 2013
ana
Music Reviews,

S.C.E.N.E 2011

by mikepetersJuly 6, 2012

Recent Posts

  • COCKTAILS & MISDEMEANORS
  • Hollywood: Salvation
  • Port Dalhousie Home (Sotheby’s)
  • Welcome to Neon Village
  • L.A. Noir

Categories

  • Blog
  • Fiction
  • Film
  • Film Analysis
  • Film Reviews
  • Music
  • Music Analysis
  • Music Reviews
  • Pop Culture
  • Print Articles
  • Reading
  • Slider 3
  • Uncategorized
  • Works

Archives

  • February 2023
  • September 2019
  • April 2019
  • February 2019
  • November 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • September 2017
  • April 2017
  • January 2016
  • July 2015
  • January 2015
  • November 2014
  • January 2014
  • August 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • November 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

© 2017 Pop Culture 101 with Michael Peters. All rights reserved.