heart & sound

Oh My Heart by Mother Mother

Consisting of twelve songs that individually could be listened to over and over again without losing their attraction, Oh My Heart is the second album from the Vancouver-based band Mother Mother.

Mother Mother is Ryan Guldemond, Molly Guldemond, Jasmin Parkin, Jeremy Page, and Ali Siadat, and they have created an album that is equally quirky and brilliant. While many of these songs are about love and relationships they couldn’t be further from your typical cheesy pop song.

In Hayloft, the band sings a comical warning to young lovers, “my daddy’s got a gun, you better run”. The sweet and very unique song Ghosting tells the story of a ghost haunting you while you sleep.

“Would it be so bad if I stayed?
I’m just a ghost out of his grave
and I can make love in my grave
I won’t put white into your hair
I won’t make noises in your stairs
I will be kind and I’ll be sweet
if you stop staring straight through me…”

Throughout the track, and the album, metaphors abound and Ghosting is definitely not just a token holiday themed song.

Overall the album is a unique experience and one that should be repeated daily. With rhythms that will take you out of any workday slump and charming yet intricate lyrics that encourage contemplation, Oh My Heart by Mother Mother is an album worth every listen.

To check out Mother Mother on Myspace click here.

Lisa Mitchell’s Enchanting Album is a Wonder

On her first full-length album Wonder Lisa Mitchell, an Australian singer-songwriter, arranges a selection of sweet melodies and soft love songs. From the catchy Neapolitan Dreams to the most recent single Coin Laundry, Lisa maintains her characteristic gentle vocals and charming lyrics.

On Coin Laundry, the innocent 19-year-old dreams of meeting a boy in a Laundromat. She asks,

“Do you have a dollar, do you have a dollar for me? Can I be the girl that you met in the coin laundry?”

It is a simple, everyday kind of fantasy that Lisa effectively translates into a song, and its original lyrics, catchy backing rhythms and smooth rhymes keep it from being overly cute or clichéd.

Lisa’s songs feature genuine lyrics and she has compiled them into a diverse collection united by a predominantly romantic theme and her unique voice. While many of the sentimental songs on the album are accompanied by delicate melodies, Mitchell does pull off a heavier sound on So Jealous, with an acoustic guitar and a soulful harmonica in the background. In contrast, Love Letter features heartbreaking lyrics and a somber melody that provides a moment of solemn reflection for the listener while illustrating the maturity of the young artist.

With upbeat rhythms and enchanting melodies Lisa Mitchell’s Wonder is an enjoyable collection of modern love songs and innocent daydreams well suited to listeners looking for a more genuine pop experience.

Dempsey’s Guitar Rings True

Australian Paul Dempsey, lead singer and guitarist of the band Something for Kate, has taken his talent for words and music and compiled his debut solo album, Everything is True, which was released in August.

Featuring 11 original tracks as well as four cover songs, the album is like a good intentioned (not creepy) smile from a stranger. Like the friend you never had but wish you did, it is honest, full of talent, well composed and it does not let you down.

The first single, Out the Airlock, is one of many soft ballads on the album and though the song features somewhat melancholy lyrics Dempsey combines gentle guitar playing and eloquence that succeed in reaching out to the listener.

The softer songs on the album are complemented by more upbeat tunes such as Ramona was a Waitress. Ramona captivates your attention without demanding it, and it will make the listener tap, bob and shake and then push repeat.

She Great Optimist highlights Dempsey’s rugged voice and amidst soft yet upbeat drums and subtle guitar his honest lyrics declare “It would be something if, if somehow after this you could still call yourself the great optimist”.

The cover of MGMT’s Time to Pretend is more than just a bonus track it is a pleasant surprise, in which Dempsey takes an amazing song and breaks it down to its simplest elements, lyrics and an acoustic guitar.

Paul Dempsey’s acoustic pop music is enjoyable without being overbearing. Everything is True may blow up but it will not dissipate; it will only get better with every listen.