Search - Irving :: I Hope You're Feeling Better Now

Eep! a follow up EP better than the debut LP?

Josh Doblinger | 12/15/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Follow up EP's tend to be more throw up eep, than stunning return to form. Fortunately for fans of Irving's debut "Good Morning Beautiful", this is not the case. The debut that contained the mixtape staple "L-O-V-E" was a wonderful venture into indie pop that was as danceable as it was melodic. "I Hope You're Feeling Better Now" clocks in with five tracks of more complicated melodies and a growing ability to write songs from the five SoCal boys. Apparently each member takes turns writing songs, but the result is nary the disjointed mesh of styles that one would assume. Sure, the first song, "Curious Thing About Leather", crams about half a dozen styles into six minutes of pop in a manner that would make Brian Wilson smile. The stuttering feedback intro builds and builds and builds until finally apexing in a barage of horns and ba-ba-ba's that is sweet music to our ears. The only song that comes close to reaching the opening numbers sheer brilliance is "I Can't Fall In Love" - the Strokes-esque vox aided dip into self pity. However, the other three songs all manage to grasp a listeners ear for the better. For $9 there isn't a much better pick up."