Friday, June 13, 2008

Review: Garfields Birthday “Let Them Eat Cake”


Their MySpace tag line is accurate…Garfields Birthday is indeed "Excellent indie pop for lost romantic souls". Fans of Brit pop are going to be mighty pleased with “Let Them Eat Cake,” the latest offering from Garfields Birthday, who hail from Weymouth, United Kingdom. The band would make their musical influences, which include Brian Wilson, Teenage Fanclub, and Big Star, proud.

To my ears, Garfields Birthday sound a lot like The Connells or Aztec Camera, mostly due to the smooth and soothing vocals of the Felton brothers. The songs are quite catchy with harmonies aplenty, particularly the lead off track “Molly’s Eyes” and the shimmering “We Know Your Name”. Other outstanding tracks include “Mystery Boy” and “Sugar Pop”, which is as sweet and tasty as it sounds, driven by a groovy wah wah lead. The brothers venture deep into Beach Boys territory with the energetic and sunny tune, "Take A Ride".

I also appreciate the excellent bass tone and the fact that these guys keep it cranked up in the mix. I think this takes the songs to a new level and makes them more memorable. The mix is expertly done…bass is up enough to standout, but is never overwhelming and distracting.

Garfields Birthday will impress fans of classic Brit pop and other pop rock bands that graced MTV's 120 Minutes during its hey day in the late 80s. If this is your bag, go get your cake and eat it too.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 3, 4, 8, 9

Garfields Birthday on MySpace. Official site.

Check out the video for "Molly's Eyes":
Molly's Eyes (Promo) By Garfields Birthday

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