Toronto jangle specialists
the Holiday Crowd return with a self-titled sophomore set that ups their production ante while continuing to favor a distinctly British indie pop sound. As on their 2012 debut,
Over the Bluffs, the band grounds its work in the milieu of slightly dour yet wistfully sunny guitar pop, taking cues from
the Smiths,
Felt, Orange Juice, and various denizens of the C-86 movement. As far as arrangements and overall tone go, it's an improvement on their debut, with a warm, sparkling production value that complements the songs well. Guitarist Colin Bowers turns in some particularly tasteful performances throughout, especially on cuts like opener "Another Nite" and "After the Long Dash," where his chiming 12-string and bright melodic leads weave deftly around singer Imran Haniff's breathy vocals. Likewise, bassist Alex Roberts -- the only legitimate Brit among them -- plays in a commanding and tuneful style that often interlocks with Bowers' picked/strummed patterns. A lovingly crafted set with plenty of hooks, it reaches for -- and achieves -- a very specific aesthetic of late-'80s jangle pop. ~ Timothy Monger