An album floated my way recently: Abraham’s 2011 release, Confetti Western. The first full-length by this Seattle three-piece is a 14 song lo-fi rock record with a ton of pop sensibility. Having had the day off when I received it, and it having been a perfect 75-degree cloudless day in Seattle, I figured the best thing to do was to take the album for a stroll around town. Here’s what I heard:

“On high”, the opening track immediately put a jive in my step with it’s driving drums and a melody line that instantly infects the brain. Within the first few tracks it was clear where a lot of the influences came from on this album: think Harvey Danger, Weezer and The Beatles mixed in with a splash of surf rock. Music that speaks to you because it’s fun, quickly digestible, and easy to drink beer and jump off shit to. This is maybe most apparent in “White & Bright”, which breaks from the gates with a loud, distorted guitar hook matched in catchiness only by the 1960’s style bubblegum vocal performance in the chorus.

There are some less inspiring moments mid way through the record, but it quickly finds its feet again with “Rise & Run”, which exclaims that “we will all sing along in our heads” together. Rounding out the album are two songs that diverge from the pop-rock mold and illustrate Abraham digging into their full potential as song writers. “The exception” gushes out of my headphones with a warm duo of organ and acoustic guitar underneath an open admission about the struggles of writing a truly unique pop song. This is directly followed by “All on your own”, a track that originally flew under my radar, but with it’s thoughtfully crafted structure, minimalist verses, and an anthem of a chorus that will have you singing along, “it’s all on your own!”, it’s undeniable.

All in all, this record is an energizing, light-hearted way to spend an afternoon and scores a “R-A-W-.5” on the “R-A-W-K-D” scale. How can you get a hold of a copy for yourself? There are a few selected tracks available on the band’s bandcamp, but to get the full thing rumor has it that you have to visit their facebook page and send them a message saying that you dig the music and want want a copy. Pass off your address along with the message and keep an eye on the mailbox! Not the most conventional way to go about getting your record to people, but i honestly think it’s a pretty boss.

–Dominic Cortese, music writer, The Monarch Review