There is a little bit of a novelty about drummer-led albums. For some reason, it is always a little surprising when they step up from behind the kit, literally or figuratively. Perhapst is led by the Decemberist’s stickman, John Moen, who has also played with Elliot Smith and Stephen Malkmus, who appears as a guest on this record as well. Moen, however, was leading the Maroons before becoming known as the drummer for all these great artists, and his vocals are well suited to a frontman role. The music on this 11-song release isn’t too great a departure from the aforementioned artists, and works rather well on that level. For the most part, the songs are catchy and hook-laden, with more than a few moments that are guaranteed to make your foot tap. The album has a little problem sustaining any real excitement for several songs in a row and sticks its toe in too many musical influences without committing to one, giving the album a bit of a sampler feel. However, when there are songs as strong as “Aren’t you Glowing” and “Blue Year,” one can certainly sit through some slightly less than compelling ones. There are other goodies on the record, but “Blue Year” belongs in heavy rotation on any good indie playlist, as does the very Smith-esque “Hyper Planets.”
-- William Carey [July 12, 2008]
