Bad Self Portraits

About

The members of Boston’s Lake Street Dive met at the New England Conservatory, where they imagined themselves as future jazz musicians. Playing together brought out their many influences, and the band now proves adept at soul, R&B, British Invasion rock, and new wave pop-rock. The loud, slashing guitars of “Stop Your Crying” prove they have a tough edge, courtesy of trumpet-playing guitarist Mike “McDuck” Olson. But it’s singer Rachael Price who sings above the glorious din with an urgent nerve that can be dialed down for the smooth adult pop of “Better Than.” There’s a light, easy flow to their musicianship that makes everything they play sound completely natural. It’s no surprise when they flash Motown credentials on the vocally rich “You Go Down Smooth”—or nail down so much with just bassist Bridget Kearney and drummer Mike Calabrese laying out the groove on “Use Me Up.” Their knowledge, their talents, their smarts, and their ability to bring it together in an emotionally compelling way is no hype; it's the very thing that defines superior musicianship everywhere.

via Apple Music

The Clerk says

Start your shelf to read the full take →