Crossword Smiles are a new band featuring Chip Saam and Tom Curless, who are well known on the Michigan music scene, from playing in among other bands The Hangabouts, Your Gracious Host and the 46%. All the bands they list as main influences on this album are acts, I know but don't listen too, but they have used those influences to come up with something else, which is why this review won't mention any of the influences mentioned in the press release.
The album opens with Feet On The Ground a nice crunchy power pop song of not losing your mind or marbles if you make it too big too soon. The guitars mesh in cool ways and the harmonies are perfectly placed in the mix.
This Little Town is slower, while being rather reminiscent of the sound The Silos had on there Cuba album, while they discuss what it's like to live in their particular little town, the strings come in to make it sound like a relaxed town, that may have a darker under belly.
October Leaves sounds just as autumnal as the title suggests as those leaves fall, things become colder, this feels like a gentle caress for the coming of what might be a harsh winter, as you reflect on how things have brought you here.
Parallel Lines is a rain bespattered song for the coming fall, with yearning vocals, a gently evocative backing as they hope the object of there desire will be prepared to become the other Parallel Line so to speak, this is wistful yet rather hopeful.
Where's The Sense is reminiscent of The Weather Prophets and has a good organ part that most of the song seems built around, as the eternal story unfolds in the lyrics, the guitars decorate and punctuate this tale of heartbreak.
Lotus has crunchy guitars over keyboard swirls and more bruised psychedelic vocals, as they try to fly to that special place as they rebuild once more, you may find it difficult not to join in with the backing vocals after a listen or two before the guitars come back in driving things on.
Walk Softly has pedal steel and slow carefully placed percussion behind the pretty vocals that suggest maybe a slow life is a good thing and that calming things down is a good idea like every carefully thought out note of the guitar solo.
The Girl With A Penchant For Yellow evokes a few memories for me and makes me think of two old friends who would always wear yellow or Orange clothes, this in places goes a bit 10CC but less episodic, I hope that girl gets to hear this rather glorious tribute to her.
Second Guesser has swooning backing vocals, a tale of love and loss and one of those people who second guess everything, nothing is totally straight forward, unlike the guitar solo that sounds like it was taken from a desert scene in a movie.
The album closes with Take It On The Chin one last catchy song for everyone whose had to Take It On The Chin the last few years, as the world has got crazier and life become more difficult, you'll be soothed by the strings purely evocative sound, as they urge us to move on. A good sentiment but whatever you do find time to linger and listen to this very cool album.
Find out more at https://www.bigstirrecords.com/crossword-smiles https://www.facebook.com/crosswordsmilesmusic.net https://crosswordsmiles.bandcamp.com/releases
