• Artist: The Clientele
• Album: God Save The Clientele
• Label: Merge
• Release: 2007
• Links: Official Site

Fronted by Alasdair MacLean, The Clientele have emerged as one of my favorite acts on the Merge Records roster. Their previous effort, Strange Geometry, received high marks from me in 2005. It was refreshing to hear a band that sounded as if they were influenced by Television just as much as they were by Nick Drake. God Save The Clientele is more affected by 60’s pop. The band has added a violinist (Mel Draisey) inbetween releases, so if you enjoyed the touches of strings on Strange Geometry, you are in for a treat. Fourteen songs might be a little much, but only one or two tracks run dry. Strange Geometry might work better as an overall album, but this feels just as rewarding in a way. You can’t argue with songs as good as “Isn’t Life Strange?” and “Here Comes The Phantom.”

(5/18/07)

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