I’ve been listening to Birds of
My Neighborhood by The Innocence Mission in my spare time (ha! Spare time?
What spare time? I devote all my moments to tape reviews), and while Green and
Glass don’t traffic in the same type of pastoral folk, it wouldn’t be out of
the question for either band to share a stage or two with Sufjan Stevens. The
Brooklyn quintet, fronted by Lucia Stavros, whose lovely vocals punctuate the
orchestral indie pop found here, crafts gorgeous story-songs about singular
people (“Lauren” on “Dire Deer” and “Seamus” on “Night Runner”), lending the
songs an intimate quality in the vein of our favorite cheerleader enthusiast,
Sufjan. (Does he still run around in the cheerleader getup?)
The music is just top notch – horns and harp add flavor to guitar and
drums, and where “Dire Deer” builds to a vibrant crescendo, “Night Runner”
remains meditative and pensive. Both songs are expertly crafted, though, and
reach their catharses in different ways. But therein lies my issue with the
tape. It’s a goddamn cassingle! See how easily I can become enraged? You’d
think that’s out of character considering my Innocence Mission and Sufjan
Stevens fetishes, but you’d be dead wrong! Dear Green and Glass, I would like
to request a full-length album right now!
Just kidding about all that anger stuff. I just want more of what Green
and Glass is peddling. You will too.
--Ryan Masteller
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