Arlo
Up High in the Night
Sub Pop
Hard and catchy pop songs that swirl and rock. Sometimes I catch hints of an almost Pond inspired psychedelic twist in the mix between the guitar and vocals, but only a taste. The band can lull you into a false sense of security, as they kick back and just lay down a smooth and soft song, like a day at the beach, and then they jump up and kick you with an energy filled number that gets you shaking your head. As soon as you get going, they bring it back down to a heavy steady groove. Some bands might annoy the hell out of me doing this up and down, but Arlo have a sound that moves perfectly through the songs. Whether it’s the singer’s voice that glides with a slight scratch or the distortion that wraps around the guitar like sonic velvet, I don’t know. I just know that the way it moves makes me move.
Sub Pop, PO Box 20645, Seattle, WA 98102, http://www.subpop.com
