The Wolf Colonel aka
Jason Anderson sometimes follows ordinary indie rock conventions on Something/Everything! There's yearning power pop balladry in "Astronaut, Astronaut"; a fondness for straining vocals and folk-rock-influenced guitar work that betrays the continuing influence of
R.E.M. on indie acts; and some abrasive post-punk that puts the emphasis on the punk. He's distinguished from the norm, however, by both the variety of approaches he employs and the slightly off-kilter and individualistic personality he brings to much of the material. He often sings with a ragged earnest melancholy on unplugged or nearly unplugged numbers; lays some hip-hop and electronica that blurs the vocals on "Citizen's Arrest"; does a tender piano-grounded ballad for "The Goodbye"; and puts some martial rhythms and reeds (or reed-sounding electronics) on "Now We Choose." He's an auteur who's neither too cheerful, too resigned, or too negative. The songs have a feel of questions and musings rather than statements, in which respect they are like so much early 21st century indie rock. It's not brilliant, but it's accomplished, as well as being slightly rawer and not as run-of-the-mill as many recordings in the tributary. ~ Richie Unterberger