|
| |
The Churchills
The Odds of Winning
(Near)
First Appeared in The Music Box, March 2006, Volume 13, #3
Written by T.J. Simon
Because it has licensed its music to several prime time television shows
(including Scrubs, E.R., Spin City, and The Sopranos),
The Churchills has received considerable exposure for its harmony-heavy indie
pop. Based upon this hip marketing ploy as well as the overall quality of the
ensemble’s fourth effort The Odds of Winning, it’s clear that the group
is on the cusp of something big. The album’s single I’m a Sucker for a Girl
in Uniform owes a huge debt to fellow Garden State residents Fountains of
Wayne, which is a good thing. The well-produced Sometimes Your Best Isn’t
Good Enough showcases driving percussion as the bedrock beneath innovative
guitar chords and a tinkling keyboard melody. Do You Want Me to Go Away,
the outing’s best track, introduces cool electronic effects into the band’s
rocking mix, and the result is akin to the material on Radiohead’s Kid A.
As good as its high points are, however, The Odds of Winning contains
several cuts that aren’t much better than average. In particular, the title
track is generally uninspired, and Unpopular appears to have been written
specifically with an eye toward landing a spot on a prime time, teen drama —
which is a likely outcome, considering The Churchill’s success at achieving
national exposure. Elsewhere, the freaky guitar solo on It Only Hurts When I
Breathe mars an otherwise decent song, and the group’s attempt at sounding
menacing on Tailspin is unlikely to scare anyone. Yet, despite a handful
of missteps, The Odds of Winning is a darn fine power pop album from a
band that is likely to be bursting into the mainstream at any moment.  ½
The Odds of Winning is available from Amazon.com.
To order, Click Here!
For Canadian orders, please
Click Here!
For UK orders, please
Click Here!
Ratings
1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!
Copyright © 2006
The Music Box
|
