Review: Rogue Wave, Out of the Shadow.
About a year ago I received a copy of Out of the Shadow in the mail. I randomly put it on the CD player on shuffle with Fleetwood Mac's Tusk; serendipitously, it turns out, as the albums share a home-studio style quirkiness, and singer Zach Rogue's voice occasionally recalls Buckingham's. I was meant, of course, to review the record then, but for whatever reason, I slept on it, though I found myself playing it more and more often. Now that the album has been picked up by Subpop and remastered with (excellent) new cover art, I don't really get to say "I told you that this band was going to be big." But I'll say it anyway. Little touches like the synthesized backward birds on 'Be Kind - Remind' and the phased keys on 'Seasick on Land' make this record a joy to listen to. 'Falcon Settles Me' recalls the kind of easy, simple but excellent songs that filled the Shins' first album (with whom the band is about to embark on a tour; if you're going, get there early). The immediately catchy songs sound floated in from a sun-baked poppy field from some alternate 1974. Doubtlessly one of the most interesting debut albums from an indie band in a while, and recommended without hesitation.

Labels: reviews, rogue wave