PlayRadioPlay!'s new album Texas pairs eye-catching album artwork with musical talent to back it up. Offering music straight from the soul, lead singer Dan Hunter will leave listeners dancing without selling out his electro/indie style.
With vocals reminiscent of Death Cab for Cutie a la The Postal Service, the music creates its own rhythm and passion throughout the album. Whether it's the pop-fused, upbeat electronica of the album's opener "Loco Commotion," the ascending, soft to hard tempo techno-ballad "Madi Don't Leave," or the neo-folksy ode to Hunter's home state of Texas, aptly titled "Texas," PlayRadioPlay! is a perfect example of style over substance.
Many of Hunter's songs have overused and typically boring topics, featuring such gems as: "I sleep in but what am I missing/I hate school and I'd rather stay in bed/where I rest my lovely head."
The lyrics may not be the strongest, but Hunter's emphasis on the bass drum in the majority of his tracks will keep listeners intrigued and involved. His vocals fit well with the instrumental angle of the album, maintaining the happy-go-lucky tone from start to finish.
An 18-year-old southerner with a three-year career (The Frequency E.P came out last summer) under his belt, Hunter uses artistic boredom to drive his musical talent. With music built for the new, tech-ruled millennium, Hunter does well to incorporate the new-aged computer sounds while never taking it over the top.
It does not overpower the musical arc and coherency with overly strange sounds, relying on instrumentals to maintain consistency.
A nice rainy day would probably be best to listen to Texas, offering calming, simple lyrics and whirring resonance. To get a taste of PlayRadioPlay!, check out http://www.myspace.com/playradioplay.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
