Veronica Falls' debut was the kind of record it's very hard to follow up. It was filled with singles and really strong album tracks, each performed with a raw energy and a mystery that combined to make it one of the better indie pop albums in recent memory. The question for any band that has such an impressive debut is what to do with the next step -- do you repeat yourself to possible diminishing returns or do you try to change things up right away?
Veronica Falls try to do some of both. The song structures, the instrumentation, and the vital vocal interplay between lead singer
Roxanne Clifford and the guys in the band (guitarist James Hoare and drummer Patrick Doyle) all remain intact, but they've made some changes in the production style. The vocals are smoothed out quite a bit and seem less likely to veer off course -- partly due to
Clifford sounding more assured, partly thanks to the way they are folded into the overall mix. The guitars mesh together better this time too, with
Clifford and Hoare relying less on frantic strumming and more on interlocking, jangling lines that twine around each other. Quite a few of the songs have the kind of hooky pop appeal that their early singles had -- "Teenage" and "My Heart Beats" especially, though "Broken Toy" is a heartfelt keeper too -- and none of the tracks are stinkers.
Clifford's vocals are lovely throughout, too, and there are moments of abandon and mystery that pop up now and again to remind one of the thrilling feel of their debut. ~ Tim Sendra