I recently signed up for a LimeWire account (they got me with their “Live at Lime” series); so far I’m really digging it, largely because it’s turned me on to some new music from bands I likely would not have been exposed to otherwise. Case in point: Doctor Leaves. Doctor Leaves was featured on the LimeWire homepage recently (which I think just rotates through new releases) and something about the cover art intrigued me enough to check it out. Really glad I did, as it’s been on heavy rotation at my house since.
Serving up a modern take on quirky, catchy, 80s pop (think XTC meets Pelle Carlberg), this Dublin duo recently released a self-titled 4-song EP that showcases their various strengths—GREAT lyrics, lovely instrumentation (string and piano flourishes that are perfectly tasteful), and tuneful melodies. The EP starts strong but no doubt saves its best for the finish, making for a nice pacing that has me wanting to listen again and again to see what subtle embellishments I might have missed on the previous listen. It’s hard to pick a standout track; as mentioned, I think due largely to the pacing of the record, I find myself most enjoying it towards the end. But there’s a lot to like here, from the second track, “When Darkness Turns to Light”‘s mellow acoustic flavor and sweet, introspective lyrics (“I don’t care where we end up with darkness turns to light, as long as I’m with you”… awww … and “I don’t think you like me as much as I think I like you, but I hope that we can still be friends”) to the closer “Small Fish, Small Pond,” with its tasteful, understated guitar leads and catchy chorus that swells into a full-on indierock guitar solo at its conclusion.
Fans of good pop, like the aforementioned Carlberg and XTC, as well as Peter Bjorn and John, will definitely appreciate these guys. Dare I say they’re just what the doctor ordered?
Songs From Other Countries 