Search - Electric Soft Parade :: No Need To Be Downhearted

Wonderful, Upbeat, Unpredictable Brit-Pop

Keith Shelton | Commerce, MI | 05/13/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Having heard the band name, but having never heard their music I had no idea what to expect upon popping in the 3rd release [First one released in the US] from ESP. After a somber opener, this album explodes in one of the best, funnest tracks I've heard this year, if not the last 5 years. "Living In The Backseat" with its awesome chord progressions, fuzzy guitars and superb buildup, this track could absolutely own alternative radio and I have no idea why its not getting any exposure.



Living In The Backseat sets the tone for the rest of album. This band really sets themselves apart from the pack because they have amazing songwriting ability. Only a couple of the tracks sound like processed manufactured pop, the rest of the album is a surprise, a burst of sunshine in a mostly dull music year. If I had to compare the band to anyone, it would be Electric Light Orchestra. I'd guess they're a pretty big influence for ESP, particularly tracks like "Mr. Blue Sky"

but if you're a fan of dreamy, bouncy, psychadelic brit pop, you will LOVE this album. From the dreamy "Woken By A Kiss" to the spacey "If That's The Case, Then I Don't Know" this is maybe the album of the year thus far."

Focused.

The Coz | Canada | 06/06/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Die hard fans, annoying little buggers, are going to whine that they've lost alot of their 'edge'. But Electric Soft Parade have finally decided to drop the whole "Hey...Try and enjoy this average music listener" and adopt a more listener friendly sound.



They have crafted a lush and melody heavy pop record. Fantastically instrumented and played. It even takes a few turns into ambient noise pop. But really it's just another in a growing line of stubborn indie bands looking at pop music and saying "I can do better than that!" And then "GASP!" actually delivering. Get it, enjoy it. Your girlfriend will love it."