Sleeping In The Pines is Loretto's first LP. The group is a two-piece act out of Jacksonville, Florida. While the album was recorded by two people, the group has since added a drummer and keyboard player. Their hope is to go into a more live format which I think would be interesting considering what I heard on the album, I imagine there will be quite a few adjustments. The music bounces around from indie, to punk and a pleasantly placed amount of Americana. It's a cool blend that stands out from the crowd.
I really liked how the album started off with a quick instrumental intro called "Remember The Alibi." It's an odd little number that sets the stage for the different genres you'll encounter throughout the album. With "Away For A Little While" I was first introduced to the vocals which I loved, as well as the lyrics which can subversive and endearing. "Stars Fall" is a great example of the Americana touch I spoke of earlier. This song is upbeat and incredibly distinctive, the Americana bleeds into their indie sound so seamlessly. My favorite song was "Bridges." It's blunt with rough edges and detours into a little bit of a punk arena. Sleeping In The Pines is a home recording projecting, and a damn good one. The two band members had Logic and analog 4 track at their disposal and they wielded these very wisely. I get that sense that what worked so well for these two was using the production elements to enhance, not define. It didn't feel like there was one set treatment for the whole album, which a lot of home recording groups tend to do. Considering the scope of genres involved, it would have been a crucial mistake to prescribe a singular treatment to every song. I really am impressed with what these two did. These two are setting a good high standard of what is capable with a laptop and a willingness to take the time. This album is not built on things that I think would woo the commercial masses, but it serves as a great counterpoint to all of that. Normally I prefer a little more cohesion than what was presented, but I'm throwing that rule of mine out the window. I liked the journey and surprises provided in the ten tracks because there were some strong cables strung between the songs that piece it all together. Those cables being strong vocals, visceral lyrics and an overall highly distinctive sound that also happens to have a range. I really liked what this album had to offer and I want to commend these two on a cool new perspective. Again I love that this was a DIY recording project and it came out so well. I am genuinely excited to see this group shift into a more traditional band that can work in a live medium. With any hope I'll get an album once they've settled into their format.
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