CD Reviews

Brilliant Colors | Again and Again

Slumberland (2011)

By LIZ PELLY | July 26, 2011

At age 22, California's Slumberland Records is having one of its strongest years to date, bolstered by acclaimed releases from the Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Crystal Stilts, and the forthcoming LP by New Jersey's Big Troubles. Brilliant Colors' sophomore record Again and Again will likely be the least recognized of this exceptional lot; it's a tightly crafted, if monochromatic, shoegazey pop record. Following the San Francisco trio's 2009 debut Introducing, the new jams maintain the same twee-pop roots via C86, Creation, and Flying Nun influences, and continue taking cues from their own label's early noise-pop roster. But this time around there's less post-punk urgency in the bass and drums and a more upfront dreaminess on every track. The tired sway of "Value Lines" or the bounce of reverberating guitars on "Cult Face" provide an accurate snapshot, but the song to download is "Back to the Tricks," which is one of a few tracks that's instantly memorable. For more patient listeners and fans of Brilliant Colors' influences, it's a nice, slow-moving, seamless take on classic underground pop. It may not be breaking new ground, but the familiar sounds of laidback underachievement can prove perfect for lazy, late summer nights.

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