When I first heard Paint the Fence Invisible from Boston’s Drug Rug, I was not only amazed how addicted I became within the first few minutes, I was also stunned how so many classic influences can sound so new. Thomas Allen and Sarah Cronin are musical soul mates complimenting each other like peanut butter and jelly. This record has personality and joy woven between every hook. I could probably name all of their influences, but I need to keep this review under six hundred words. If you like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The New Pornographers, The White Stripes, or most music that came out of the late sixties, you will love this record. It is a modern gem.
“Follow” tricks you at the start, but lays a short path to the record with a psychedelic, strange introduction. Its short, but sets the stage for a masterpiece of ten stunning pop songs. “Haunting You” is a great freight train of harmonies with a chugging rhythm. Their voices are united and infectious. The influences behind this song remind me of great times, long summers and happiness. We get hit next with the jangly “Never Tell” which captures all the elements of joy, happiness and love we remember from those early seventies classics. You can avoid the Beatles flavor of this one, but they do it so well you forget about the influence and focus on the pop.
“Blue Moon” sways with a tight, warm vocal. I can’t help but compare the genius of vocal layering to that of The Association or the Mamas and the Papas. They should be proud of this one. Huge influential shoes to fill are no problem for Allen and Cronin. The razor sharp vocals of Cronin come through loud and clear on “Hanah Please” and great gifts are given every second. The twisting organ tone and sharp punch makes this song tap your feet immediately. “Don’t be Frightened by the Devil” is full of wonderful sonic shapes and texture. Like the chemically induced dream songs of our past, this one is already a classic. Genius in structure, they have captured a sound that is so cool it has to be listened to more than once. Sounds like this defined a time. They may be redefining our time with this cool number.
“Noah Rules” first hits your ears like an old southern spiritual, a chain gang song or a blues classic. It begins to morph into an explosion of sound distortion with chops, that quickly takes you to the roads of Alabama via a spaceship from Mars. It is yet another masterpiece of sound and vocal arrangement. An easy favorite, “Coffee in the Morning,” is bewitching and hypnotic, and almost frightening. The emotion in this song is so deep you can hold it to your chest and feel it beating. “Passes On” must be appreciated with headphones. The distorted bass and groove ride alone with a cool snap of the snare and sparse acoustic guitar. Listening behind the scenes is the real joy.
“Sooner the Better” has a Spanish energy mixed with a wonderfully warm vocal and Beatlesque charm. This is an excellent pop song with loads of influence. The album ends with the title track, “Paint the Fence Invisible,” which leaves with a simple, childlike sound capturing a love affair between Sarah’s voice and a brightly plucked single guitar. I was torn whether I should weep or cringe. Drug Rug has captured a unique sound but also given homage to those who came before. Gifted artists of the simplistic and warm, both Allen and Cronin have produced a top shelf classic.
"Paint the Fence Invisible" is on sale July 28, 2009 from Black and Greene.
