What Laura Says is a Phoenix based indie rock band originally known as What Laura Says Thinks and Feels. The band’s two founding members, Danny Godbold and James Mulhern started the group as an acoustic duo before expanding their sound by adding three additional members; Greg Muller on drums, Mitch Freedom on bass and Jacob Woolsey as a percussionist and “overall weird shit player.” The band’s first LP on Terpsikhore Records is dubbed Thinks and Feels as an ode to the group’s more subtle roots.
The best way to describe the blissful sound of What Laura Says is one three letter word, fun. The band’s debut album tinkers with numerous genres, all of which you’ve probably heard before in their original context, but somehow the band manages to find a way to completely make these sounds their own. From ‘60s pop melodies to bluesy rhythms, Laura conjures up nostalgic sounds, modernizes them, and then implements them into their own remarkable pop confection. It’s an easily digestible throwback to simpler times, and it’s the most fun I’ve had listening to a new CD in a long time.
The backbone of Thinks and Feels is the band’s exceptional vocal harmonies. It’s something right out of a 1960’s top 40 hit, think The Beach Boys or The Everly Brothers; and it casts such a beautifully mesmerizing effect that it makes you wonder why more modern bands don’t utilize a similar approach. Whether it is the terrific vocals of one of the two lead men or that of an unnamed female vocalist, who makes enough appearances throughout the album to probably warrant an inclusion in the band, the singing is always brought into the forefront of the disc’s 11 dazzling tracks.
The album starts off with the cheerful opener, “Couldn’t Lose Myself If I Tried,” showing off the bright melodies that seep through the rest of the disc. The following track is the roots based bluesy sing-along “Fashionably Moral,” which is assuredly different than the proceeding and succeeding tracks and yet handled with a graceful seamlessness that few artists can pull off.
The album travels down paths that have been well traveled and ones that have, alternately, been lightly trodden. While the cool acoustic folk sounds of “Dot Dot Dot” have been heard before, the odd and eclectic musings of “Wish I Could Fly” walk the fine line between experimental and nostalgic. It’s the straight up country-western feel of the endearing “Get Better Soon” though, that really allows What Laura Says to showcase their distinctive musical voice.
From the western swing sound of “Wish I Could Fly,” the band segues into the deep lush flavors of my favorite track on Thinks and Feels, “July 23.” Beginning with a haunting piano intro and a distant tonal vocal, “July 23” anchors the latter half of the album with an emotionally moving, almost poignant moment among all the light hearted fun.
Simply put, What Laura Says’ Think and Feels is an extremely enjoyable indie pop album that feels refreshingly modern and chillingly nostalgic at the same time. With its deep sensual harmonies, catchy melodies and varied use of multiple genres, Thinks and Feels is both aesthetically pleasing and daringly inventive. It’s an amazing debut album by one of my new favorite bands, and I dare say one of the very best albums of the year.
"Thinks and Feels" is on sale August 19, 2008 from Terpsikhore.
