(myspace.com/pomegranatesart)Pomegranates – Everything is Alive
(http://www.lujorecords.com)Lujo Records
Indie pop with an experimental yet natural feel.
The fruits named pomegranates are tangy, satisfying, and sweet. As it turns out, this description is also fitting for the band Pomegranates. On their first full-length album Everything is Alive, this new band delivers indie-pop with a fresh and bright sound. They have a knack for writing big-sounding songs that still feel intimate and personal, since many of them were recorded live.
The album opens with the overly fuzzy, lo-fi, psychedelic and swirling “Transportation,” but soon the album really gets started with “Whom/Who.” This song has an immediacy much more accessible than “Transportation,” with a catchy, attention-grabbing beginning. However, as “Whom/Who” develops, it becomes clear that it is much more than a catchy pop ditty. It expands into soaring melodies that have an epic feel, and ends with punchy accents.
“The Bellhop” differs from some of the danceable tracks on Everything is Alive by giving off a more laid-back and light vibe. It is tender and heartfelt, but never gets too cutesy. “The Bellhop” may not stand out at first listen of the album, but it is sure to attract notice after a few initial plays. The unique, reflective and smart lyrics are sung in a high, clear voice that really grows on the listener. Much of the same can also be said for “Desert Hymn,” a meditative, sparsely-instrumented, soothing song about faith.
However, most of the songs on this album are full, fun, and charming, like the rollicking “Appreciations” and the up-tempo “Thunder Island,” which keep the pace of Everything is Alive going.
The closer “Thunder Meadow” finishes by putting a strong cap on the album. There are many peaks and valleys, but they flow seamlessly together. Pomegranates play on their strengths by flowing between big, grand moments and quiet intimacy with ease, much like the rest of the album. “Thunder Meadow” seems to be like a mini-version of Everything is Alive.
When it ends, the listener is left feeling satisfied with the album’s completeness, but also ready to listen to the whole thing over again.
Megan Morgan