Peter Wolf Crier - Garden Of Arms

Just read a review which compared this to Amnesiac, Bowie's Berlin era and the Black Keys. Three things that see completely at odds to me, which leaves me excited to start. And I see the Amnesiac part, kind of. There's plenty of atmospheric drums crashing all about without regard to the mellowness of the keyboards or guitars that may be the anchor of the written song. Even amoung the most ballady of the collection, "Having It Out" pits a weepy Pisano trying to croon like Chris Martin at a piano all while Brian Moen keeps the pace moving with a frenetic tambourine.

It's still way too indie to really be sat alongside those previous examples. These songs are little more than a basic piano or guitar structure with drums that get about a layer of effects overdubs. I get the feeling that Pisano would like to be regarded as a Jim James or Conor Oberst. He's trying to come acoss that earnestly. He lacks a little in the way of dynamic writing, vocal inflection and simple ability to get there.

Still, the pair are able to chalk up a number of successes on the album. The riff laden "Hard Heart" and the more subdued U2 influenced, "Haunt You". (2.5 of 5 stars)