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 Caught in the Carousel - "There will be music despite everything"
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Priory
Priory
Expunged
Described on their Facebook page as "Catchy hook-driven rock with poppy keyboard twists and swirling three-part vocal harmonies," the Portland-based Priory's self-titled debut only half-lives up to that claim. It's definitely rock with a poppy keyboard and they do have three part vocal harmonies, but it's only really "catchy" some of the time. The album is a mixed bag: occasionally inspiring, generally pleasant, and at times downright generic indie rock. The melodic "Alone" is a perky, upbeat track; the driving "Devil vs Heater" is worth a listen just for its bizarre opening line ("I'm trying to kill the devil with the heater on"), and "Wait" boasts a downright engaging rhythm. The more electronic "Worthy Dreams" is one of the best songs on the album, but less successful are "Cold Hands" which starts off as a pretty acoustic track with vocals like those of lesser Fleet Foxes, but it loses you by the chorus. Similarly, "Searching" starts off sweet and simple, but then gets unnecessarily complicated. Elsewhere, the synth-heavy "Lady of Late" falls flat, while the whiny, emo-like vocals of "Red Sun" are irritating. The bizarre Christmassy "White Coats" draws you in, but loses you in its ensuing blandness.
—Jessica Simons
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