MODERN SKIRTS > All of Us in Our Night

Label: 02. RECORDS
[Rating: 3.5]

It takes a few listens for Modern Skirts’ latest batch of songs to insinuate themselves into the brain lobes; there’s an incongruity between the melody and lyrics that seems odd at first. But after getting used to lighter-than-a-feather, sweetly poppy keyboard tinkling and “la-la,” “ooh-ooh” Beach Boys/Partridge Family vocals floating oh-so-delicately over lyrics that seem alternately sinister, semi-humorous or borderline nonsensical, it sticks. Tracks like the Brit-pop influenced “Soft Pedals,” which evokes images of spinning psychedelic flowers and ‘60s mini-dresses (like an ancient Eau de Love commercial, or, say, an illustrated movie about a yellow submarine), contrast with the darker emo elements of songs like “Radio Breaks,” which suggest modern-day angst and resolute failure to accept adult responsibilities. Maybe it all represents the dichotomy between having-it-all happiness and searching for something more. Or not. Lines like “give me a knife and a merryground” or “Build the city brick by brick/these streets stay up all night” make you want to hear more; the latter track is particularly compelling, lyrically and musically. It isn’t one of several here produced by David Lowery (Cracker, Camper van Beethoven) or R.E.M.’s Mike Mills, but it’s its just one of many in this 12-song collection that makes you wanna look further up this Athens, Ga. band’s, um, skirts.