Shane Turner Overdrive

Immediately, the intro. hooked me with its building, haunting melody. I needed to hear more.  The subsequent drop into “Wigs” fit perfectly and, although the vocals are a bit buried in the mix, it’s easy to get immersed in this song.  The album then slows down and meanders a bit, trying to find its voice until the drum introduction for “Age 25-29 Hairline” kicks in.  The chorus falls at just the right time, with the right amount of hook to give the album a second wind.  I had to hit repeat.

Things keep a good pace from there. Although nothing is quite as memorable as “Hairline”, the songs are catchy enough to get into until “Cedric Sneer” begins and the album comes to a complete halt. This quick organ interlude, as with the earlier “Cyril Sneer”, kills what flow the album is building and feels unecessary.  Nothing quite hits the highs of the middle of the album again until the final track, “Weird Dream”, which starts off slower and then drops into a really catchy bridge/outro that leaves you wanting more.

Wanting more is probably the best way for me to describe this album, in more than one sense.  I do love the lo-fi production – the warmth of the recording fits the feel of the music perfectly – however, I find that the vocals are regularly buried in the mix.  All of the songs except for one are short, under 3 minutes, and they feel that way.  Most tracks blend into one another and, with the exception of a few, don’t stick with me once they’re over.  That being said, the few songs that did leave an impression will be making their way into my regular rotation.

Indie-pop lovers: I think you will find that this album is right up your alley.  It’s hooky, haunting, and, although it stumbles a bit and blends together, the few real standout songs make the hiccups more than forgivable.

For more Shane Turner Overdrive,
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/shaneturneroverdrive

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Review by Ben Tillmann