I would so much rather have an album of five wonderful songs than any full-length that has five wonderful songs and a bunch of inferior filler tracks. That is exactly why you find Loch Lomond’s Night Bats EP among my Favorites of 2009. Each of the five songs presents a facet of perfection from the five band members, led by vocalist and songwriter Ritchie Young (center, above).
Like fellow Portlander Colin Meloy, Young’s compositions are literate and have the characteristics of folk songs played as chamber music. However, Night Bats is closer to what the Decemberists used to be like, along the lines of Picaresque and Her Majesty the Decemberists. Personally, I would rather hear a good story complete in one song than an hour-long rock opera. Loch Lomond’s “Wax and Wire” and “Spine” recall the Decemberists that I have been missing.
“Ghost of an Earthworm” and “Holiday” (the same song made popular by Madonna), however, channel the ghost of early Belle and Sebastian, who also seem to have lost the freshness of their root sound. But the title song, “Night Bats,” with Young’s shimmering falsetto and minimal accompaniment, is a bit of gorgeousness that is totally Loch Lomond’s. I have been obsessed with figuring out the lyrics that describe the love/hate relationship between day bats and night bats.
Loch Lomond - Wax and Wire from Night Bats EP
Get more tracks from their recent session at Daytrotter.
MySpace | Website | Label: Hush Records
Buy at Hush REcords Store, Amazon, iTunes, and eMusic
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Love these guys. ‘Wax and Wire’ would have to be my favourite I think.
Totally agree about preferring a tight EP over a padded out album. That’s why Meursault’s ‘Nothing Broke’ EP made my top 5 releases this year.
December 18th, 2009 at 2:46 pm