Hospitality- Hospitality

It‰’s 2012 and girly indie pop is – let’s face it – a bit overdone. My guess is you haven‰’t listened to your Thao & The Get Down Stay Down record in a while, and I‰’m sure you‰’re starting to wonder what ever happened to Victoria Bergsman.

Well fear not, Blue Roses fans. On their full length debut, Hospitality demonstrate that while the genre may be teetering on the verge of exhaustion, there is still room for a band with an impressive control of melody that isn‰’t afraid to get a little weird.

Singer Amber Pampini‰’s keen pop sensibility guides Hospitality from irresistibly catchy uptempo strum sessions to lush twee ballads, complete with dueling male-female vocals. Hooks aside, Hospitality‰’s hidden strength lies in its precise production, which lets the horns, violins, and keys act as creative flourishes rather than overcomplicating hindrances. If you still care about the young folks, pick this album up. -Maxwell Tani

RIYL: Camera Obscura, Laura Marling, The Golden Dogs
Recommended: 1, 2, 8, 9, 10