Review: Slumberland Records
Neutrals/LightHeaded/Reds, Pinks, and Purples
Slumberland, a real class act. It’s a given that they’ll have a release in my Top 10 every single year. 2025? They’ve already notched a spot, but we’ll get to that later. Here’s a couple winners and an adjacent release.
I’ve long been on the Allan McNaughton journey. From Giant Haystacks to Airfix Kits and now Neutrals, it’s been a top shelf trip. Straight up catchy jangle pop with bouncy bass lines, like The TVP’s stripped of any psychedelic leanings. The 13-tracks flip by quickly, never overstaying their welcome. “Wish You Were Here” is the early album highlight and really should be a modern hit. Holding together the middle, “Steven Proctor, Bus Conductor” might be my top pick of the album. The eerie jangle with the story-lyrics are a real masterstroke. “How Did I Get Here” takes a weird electro detour that’d be unwelcome if it wasn’t such a good palette cleanser that it strengthens the closing three tracks. What can I say, I’m still a McNaughton stan.
This album’s a tough one to nail down. It goes in so many directions but never goes to shit. “Dawn Hush Lullaby” has a 60’s pop vibe. “Moments Notice” dabbles in Feelies-folk. And then other tracks have a subdued Indie Pop flow, inhabiting a similar space as the first couple of Alvvays albums. It all boils down to a crew of folks that know their way around a song. It’s a rock solid collection.
On Tough Love and not Slumberland, but most of the previous Reds, Pinks & Purples stuff was on Slumberland, so we’re throwing it in. The physical version of a previously digital exclusive. I can’t imagine a song suite this good withering in the digital landscape. Guess I don’t have to. If y’all have been following along for a while you already know what I have to say. Laid back dream pop/indie pop. No left turns or surprises, just an album that flows through one masterfully written song after another.
Reds, Pinks & The Purples - The World Doesn’t Need Another Band
Speaking of previously digital only releases, we’ve got the opening track to the next album, The Past Is A Garden I Never Fed. And it’s a real ace. Originally, the collection appeared on Bandcamp, then disappeared, but is still on Apple Music. It’s a bummer when stuff randomly disappears from streaming but when it’s reappearing as part of a physical release it feels like it’s for the greater good or something. “The World Doesn’t Need Another Band” is probably a Top 10 RP&P song, which is no small feat.