"I feel like the world's getting lighter today.."
spiral_mind | Pennsylvania | 11/29/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"After an undeserved absence Amazon finally has this gem available, and now an unfortunate oversight has been corrected. I wish I'd known, I would have raved about Little Light a long time ago. The beauty of Groovelily deserves much more attention than their odd name is likely to earn them; with a basic keys/drums/violin lineup (augmented on this album by some tasty bass & guitar work), they spin wondrously eloquent lyrics and sweet ear-candy melodies into the finest kind of intelligent pop. It's instantly addictive, sure, but the sheer strength of the writing keeps everything from wearing out its welcome after only a little while like so much disposable pop. This is ear candy but not fluff: it still gets me high for days at a time, and after two and a half years it sounds as fresh as it did on the first spin. Behind the writing their musical skill is also pretty impressive, which is only icing on the cake.. that and Valerie Vigoda's honey-sweet voice, of course.Lyrically they show a wonderful knack for the simple yet profound; these are songs that cover well-trodden personal territory without dipping into cliches, while remaining bouncy and singable from start to finish. The cynical ("Prayer for the Unrequited," "Little Nemesis") fits right alongside the positive ("Weight of the World," "Little Light") without anything sounding out of place. The overall tone is irresistibly mood-lifting, whether it's full of sunshine or mildly encouraging amidst the bleakness. Even the sad "Love Song Without Metaphor" (and isn't that a refreshing thing in itself?) doesn't brood on the somber side, but sugarcoats the lyrics with one of the most bouncy upbeat tunes to be found on this disc. Their cover of "I Want to Know What Love Is" - a song I always hated - is made listenable and even enjoyable with a newfangled touch of reggae. Who ever expected that?This is an album that's always been good for enhancing a sunny mood and for cheering me up when I need it most. The songs range from driving force to atmospheric beauty, heartfelt joy to sadness, and yet the overall positivity can't help but catch on. If it seems like I'm gushing a little, well.. that's the reaction everyone seems to have to this band. Take a listen and see if you don't end up bouncing a little with excitement yourself."
This is an extraordinary CD; don't underestimate this group.
S. Rodden | Somerville, New Jersey | 03/25/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I heard parts of this CD live four years ago, and have become an avid fan as a result. The music rocks, mainly filled with unusually high-quality electric violin and incredible lyrics. The drummer is a natural jazz musician but does amazingly well playing rock and roll. Songs on this album are extremely well-written, intensely personal in certain respects, and yet can be so easily understood. I highly recommend this CD."