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The Voyces

Kissing Like It's Love

(Planting Seeds; US: 8 May 2007; UK: Available as import)

The Voyces want you to think that they’ve been influenced by Simon & Garfunkel. This is true on the opening title track, a very precious pop gem that would fit perfectly on an album by the Connells. Lead singer Brian Wurschum has that sweet, earnest tone in his voice that often sells the song with ease. The Voyces want you think they’ve also have been influenced by the Beatles. Yes, this too is true on “Hair Up High”, a slow but gorgeous nugget. But they are at their best when combining these influences, as in the case of the infectious “You’re in Charge of Driving the Narcotics Trolley, and You’re Doing an Excellent Job”. California pop is another important part of the band, particularly on “Lovers in the Sky”, which falls somewhere between solo Tom Petty and Matthew Sweet. Even throwaway tracks like “Please Wash Away” are fabulous, despite clocking just over two minutes. The only stretch on the record is “The Canyon Ladies”, but most will even cozy up to this winding track. A very sweet, soft and fragile album in the best way possible.

Rating:

Originally from Cape Breton, MacNeil is currently writing for the Toronto Sun as well as other publications, including All Music Guide, Billboard.com, NME.com, Country Standard Time, Skope Magazine, Chart Magazine, Glide, Ft. Myers Magazine and Celtic Heritage. A graduate of the University of King's College, MacNeil currently resides in Toronto. He has interviewed hundreds of acts ranging from Metallica and AC/DC to Daniel Lanois and Smokey Robinson. MacNeil (modestly referred to as King J to friends), a diehard Philadelphia Flyers fan, has seen the Rolling Stones in a club setting, thereby knowing he will rest in peace at some point down the road. Oh, and he writes for PopMatters.com.


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Alternating power-pop and '70s-AM-radio-rock numbers with the dreamy folk-rock flavor of previous recordings, this is a homesick Californian's ode to the land that he loves.
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