REVIEW: Gigolo Aunts, Minor Chords And Major Themes (E
Pluribus Unum)
- Bill Holmes
Wow! Blasting back with their first full length record since 1994, the Gigolo Aunts have indeed made it worth the wait. Kicking off with the arena-pop crunch of "C'mon, C'mon" (not the Cheap Trick tune, but not a bad comparison either), the Aunts serve up a diverse platter that takes the best elements of their past work (huge hooks, good harmonies and bold guitar) and use them as a springboard for their most solid work to date.
A few of the tunes roar right off the record. "Super Ultra Wicked Mega Love" echoes bands like The Odds who are able to combine power and finesse; "Fade Away" uses psychedelic sonics and a tasty wah-wah pedal to great effect. "The Big Lie" (with vocal help from guest Adams Duritz and Schlesinger - what, Sandler was busy?), like many tracks, starts with an acoustic skeleton and then revs from zero to sixty in ten seconds. "Lie", "Half A Chance" and "Everything Is Wrong" are classic pop reminiscent of records from Revolver to The Jayhawks Sound Of Lies and everything in-between.
Producer Mike Denneen, who did a masterful job with Jen Trynin's Gun Shy Trigger Happy, applies a similar magic touch here. He mixes Gibbs' breathy vocals up front on slower tracks like the hypnotic "You'd Better Get Yourself Together Baby" (featured in TV’s "Felicity") and makes bassist Steve Hurley's vocal turn on "Residue" just as beautiful. With its strong pop sensibilities and smart lyrics, Minor Chords And Major Themes is just as effective blasting from the speakers as it is accompanied by a rainy sunset and a broken heart.
Although 1997's EP Learn To Play Guitar seemed to lose the momentum that Flippin' Out generated, any doubts about this band's talent have been cast aside. The song writing vastly improved, the playing seamless, and Dave Gibbs' vocals have never sounded better. When eight of the first nine tracks could easily be released as singles, you know you’re on to something.
If you have any other records you want to listen to, you'd better play them now. Once this one gets in your player, it isn't going to come out for a long, long time. An absolute stunner.
