REVIEW: What Laura Says - Thinks and Feels

What Laura Says - Thinks and Feels
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The members of What Laura Says were most likely raised on equal portions of authentic blues, classic rock, and somewhere down the line during their teenage years they discovered indie music. A listen through Thinks and Feels is a bit misleading in that the band sounds like they’ve been around for quite a while, almost a bit classic-sounding. They’ve seen the dusty, country roads, they’ve seen the abandoned homes out in the countryside, they’ve seen the big cities, they’ve soaked in both oceans; they’ve seen the country multiple times over.

“Couldn’t Lose Myself If I Tried” kicks off the album. It’s an interesting opener because, in a way, it foreshadows what is to come over the following ten tracks: a diverse mix of music. Thinks and Feels is adventurous and bold for this very reason, taking on multiple genres and influences. There’s blues, there’s rock, there’s even a bit of ragtime. There are hints of Queen, hints of Ben Folds Five, hints of the Beach Boys. It makes for a most enjoyable listen and keeps things interesting.

However, this eclectic mix also causes a bit of unevenness, as well. This is really only present with the excellent “July 23.” I’ve already expressed my love for the song. It’s one of the standout tracks, but also contrasts the mood of much of the album; sounding like it could have been part of a different album altogether. Even so, it’s hard to discount its value and placement among ten other equally terrific songs.

What truly ties and holds Thinks and Feels together is how well-arranged and executed it is. There’s a difference between writing songs, and writing adventures. It sounds a bit odd, right? Check out “Illustrated Manual.” The band could very well overstuff their songs with too many instruments, a large amount of embellishment, but What Laura Says never really runs into this problem. They know their limits and they know how to push themselves. Their music is a euphoric trip through a pleasantly warm summer’s day, through a winter’s snowfall, through enjoyable music eclecticism (whether it’s the blues-tinged “Fashionably Moral” or the rolling rock of the Roy Orbisonesque “Get Better Soon”). It’s a varied range of styles, but it never feels like they are trying too hard. It conjures up images of that indescribable feeling that flows through you during a gaze into a lover’s eyes, of the never-ending beauty and inspiration embedded in the lay of the land, of backyard barbeques that start in the mid-afternoon but seemingly never end until sometime the following morning, of meandering hikes through the woods with no purpose but to forget the rest of the outside, industrialized world.

People don’t make albums like this anymore. Well, they still do, but it’s a rare occurrence. What Laura Says brings to the table what music often lacks: a fun, free-spirited approach, one that maintains focus and sincerity. It’s often said that much of the music heard these days won’t be around a few years from now or that’s it’s a crime that it actually has the chance to be heard. The true crime here will be if this album is overlooked and sinks into obscurity.

Recommended tracks: “Couldn’t Lose Myself If I Tried,” “Illustrated Manual,” “Paradice,” “Get Better Soon,” “July 23”

(Note: reviews are graded with Ms, five Ms being the highest grade)

Thinks and Feels is out now on Terpsikhore. Pick it up here.