RIYL: She and Him, Regina Spektor, Sarah McLachlan
When the ukulele fad runs it’s course (and you know it will) the clever couple that make up Minnesota-based band Bella Ruse will be ready to fill the gap with their quirky instrument of choice: kazoo. You might laugh at first, but there’s an undeniable charm to the breezy songwriting on the bands 2009 debut CD Kuhzoo that’s missing from most mainstream radio these days. Over 11 tracks of catchy pop, folk and love balladry, pixie-voiced lead singer Kay Gillette and guitarist Joseph Barker showcase an impressive range of musical moods and quirky melodies that will waste no time getting stuck in your head.
That most favorite of party favors provides the hook for the album opener ‘The Kazoo Song’, a catchy kiss-off
to a beau that’s been partying too hard to merit keeping, and it surfaces in moderation on other tracks along with a menagerie of uncommon instruments including toy piano, glockenspiel and xylophone. At their core these are solid tunes, although on a few tracks the cutesy factor distracts from the songs’ emotional crux.
Its impossible not to relate to the sentiments on ‘Gumption and Guts’, a clever pop number anchored by jaunty piano and chock-full of Gillette’s sarcastic witticism. An upbeat rhythm and rustling guitar pair nicely with Gillette’s tongue-in-cheek lyrics about being exasperated with life’s daily grind. “I don’t mind never winning”, she admits, “But I hate always coming last.”
Her voice is a thing of beauty on ‘Sea Love’, evoking Feist at her most love sick alongside angelic background harmonies and underwater imagery of fish and seahorses. There are a few tracks that you could call “filler” but stick around long enough and you’ll be rewarded with ‘Darling’, a highlight featuring finger snaps, xylophone and an irresistible guitar-pop hook.
Surprisingly, the album ends on a chilly note with a
cover of Radiohead’s ‘Like Spinning Plates’. Its a bold move, and the track is strong, but the mood is far too dark for an album this perky. Still, its encouraging to find a pop singer that’s willing to take risks, and overall there’s more than enough solid material on Kuhzoo to warrant keeping Bella Ruse on your radar.
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For More Information Visit:
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http://www.bellaruse.com
