The mood caught me. The lyrics caught me on the second run. The arrangements had me from the get-go.
After feeling a little disappointed on the first play of ‘Tallahassee” from Kris N’s ‘The Thankful Parade’ album, this wave of 80s nostalgia confronted me like the troop of she-devils from the movie, Heathers. No, not outlandish and novelty – that sound, that pure high fidelity sound. The organic sound, the Elvis Costello-meets the Psychedelic Furs vocals crossed over a tight orchestration, ignited this fever!
Okay, maybe I don’t need a cigarette after listening to “Tallahassee” a second time, but Kris N, a Dayton, Ohio-based artist, struck an emotional chord. The sleepy acoustic guitar arrangement has perfectly placed moments where the screech of the guitar neck cuts through the moment like a broken heart. The entire song has an eery feel.
“Tallboys To Lincoln” came out of nowhere after listening to the mire-laced “Tallahassee.” The airy opening, dreamy orchestration is not quite synth pop, but not quite punk either. “Pacific Blue” has robust bass hooks, mashed against a simple percussion arrangement. I love, love, love the synthesizer in this one.
As the songs cascade one after another, the emotional lyrics take their toll; they hoist Kris N’s artistic factor beyond the cool factor. “Farewell Fifth Street,” “For Awesome” and “Cusack” create a lasting sound for the listener. The arrangements are top notch, and while the vocals might not have the range of a more polished Elvis Costello, the flavor and feel of the songs surpass this seemingly weakness.
“Christmas Tree” and “Choo-Choo-Choose You” are crazy good. “Grace Killey” has crunchy guitars, veiled with a heavier percussion. The echo-ing vocals feel edgy and slick.
“Camillon Belles” and “First and 10” round out ‘The Thankful Parade’ and consistently keep the listener locked in the 80s pop/alternative mode. Say what you will about the vocals – the high fidelity recording – it works for Kris N. They keep it fresh and the songs feel modern in their own quirky way. Overall grade is a solid A.
