Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 10/10/2006
Shane Nelken is a fixture in the Vancouver
pop scene, playing with
A.C. Newman,
Sparrow, and
Vancouver Nights as well as appearing in
the New Pornographers'
"Use It" video.
The Awkward Stage is
Nelken's project, along with
NP drummer
Kurt Dahle, and their debut,
Heaven Is for Easy Girls, is a prototypical Vancouver
indie rock record. Which makes it something quite special for lovers of smart, hooky
guitar pop. The sound of Heaven is built around a tight rhythm section and tough-sounding guitars sprinkled with near-perfect amounts of horns, key, and percussion. The arrangements are simple, but little surprises like the
classical piano coda on
"So Stupid, So Smart," the triumphant trumpet and
Association-styled backing vocals on
"We're Going for a Ride," or the vocal choir on
"T-Rexia Nervosa" give the proceedings a substantial bump up in quality. Some of the other bands in
Nelken's circle could take a hint from he and
Dahle's inventive arrangements.
Nelken's lyrics are unfailingly witty and delivered in about as warm and intimate a voice you'll hear; he nails the rockers head on and emotes convincingly on the
ballads. Every song on the record is a winner, but the best songs stack up to the best Vancouver has to offer.
"The Morons Are Winning," the lovely piano
ballad "West Van Girl," "I Love You Hipster Darling," and
"The Room Tone" are all destined to be in heavy rotation, and if you can listen to the title track and not end up with the hook stuck in your head all day, you are made of strong stuff indeed.
Heaven Is for Easy Girls is the kind of record that will leave you with a warm feeling inside and a goofy grin on your face; it also lends more credence to the belief that Vancouver is the center of the
guitar pop universe.
~Tim Sendra, All Music Guide
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