With a large supporting cast around them,
Four Hours Sleep make some very lovely, mid-tempo and smart adult contemporary pop. This is evident on the refined and glistening "I Know I Shouldn't (But I Can't Help Myself)" that glides along like a great lush track by
the Beautiful South or a tamer version of
Pulp. From there the band gets the party started with a catchy, hook-riddled "I Love That Woman" that brings to mind
Fountains of Wayne,
Teenage Fanclub or a sullen
Guided by Voices. Here the song finds its groove and the band rides it for all it's worth. However, the album's biggest asset might be how often the group changes gears, with "Who Ya Gonna Love?" being a tender ballad that resembles a duet between Bono and
Ryan Adams. Just as fine is the ambling "Goodbye Song" that features
Angie Hart and could be mistaken for a fantastic cover of something performed by
Be Good Tanyas or
the Waifs. This feeling continues on the soft, roots pop that makes "Original Lover" another well-crafted effort. Here Ollie Olsen's raspy, deep delivery makes one envision what
Nick Cave might do to this warm ditty. The first true miscue is "Very Strange, Very Cool," a somewhat seedy, bluesy and raunchy track that veers off into a dreamy chorus with mixed results at best. A better effort on this vibe is has Paul Kelly leading the way on the deliberate, funk-tinged "If I Had My Way." ~ Jason MacNeil