You know those Target commercials? The summery ones that feature flowing floral skirts, sprinklers and lemonade stands? I know you know which ones I’m talking about. The Sleepy Rebels’ new album Yellow Tree is basically the soundtrack to those commercials. I’m not kidding. When I turned it on, I feel like the sun became brighter outside and the sky became bluer.
Not that it’s a bad thing. It is almost summer, after all, so it’s the perfect soundtrack to a day at the beach or a long car ride through the woods, with sunlight peaking through the trees. Okay, I’ll stop using sunlight analogies.
But seriously, once I got to the second track, “Let’s Take the Day Off,” I got a lot of Simon and Garfunkel vibes, only in this instance, Garfunkel is female. Sleepy Rebels’ harmonies are pleasant and easy to listen to without being cliché or overly cheesy (think Colbie Caillat, that’s some cheese right there).
The first single “Unbelievable” is so delightful, heavy on the hand claps and trumpets, and highlights Erica Driscoll’s comforting soft voice along with her brother Bruce and bandmate Jeremy Adelman’s multi-instrumental talents. Later on the in the album, particularly on the last track “Something,” not only do we get some Simon and Garfunkel hints, but that song reminds me of early Belle and Sebastian, and that’s never a bad thing.
Not only do we get some lovely acoustic guitar throughout the album, but plenty more strings – including mandolin, banjo, violin, viola, cello, and possibly some ukulele – and I caught a bit of French horn and ocarina on “Day Off” and a flute on “Elegy.”
A flute. Really.
Let me elaborate a bit on “Elegy” – it’s such a beautiful ballad that’s reminiscent of Shakespearean tragedies. I can just picture a man sauntering around on a stage in tights and puffy sleeves swooning over a princess or something. It’s definitely something we haven’t heard much of since….well…Shakespearean times.
“Beautiful” and “We’ll Wake the World Up” are also easy flowing ballads, “Crystal Ball” is a slightly bluesy track with slide guitar, “Shoot the Breeze” is another one of the Target commercial songs, or maybe one for fabric softener. Either way, it’s bright and sunny. I’m repeating myself, aren’t I?
Well I think you get my point, but I’ll just end on this – the New York trio Sleepy Rebels leaves no room for pessimism on their latest album Yellow Tree. It’s the perfect soundtrack to summer, so I suggest you get it now while the weather is still lovely. Simple as that.
Track listing:
1. To the Hollow
2. Let’s Take the Day off
3. Unbelievable
4. You Can Make the Sunrise
5. You’re the One Thing
6. Better Day
7. The Language of You
8. Elegy
9. Beautiful
10. We’ll Wake the World Up
11. Take it Easy
12. Only One
13. Crystal Ball
14. Shoot the Breeze
15. Castles Out of Sand
16. Something
