Word: hanley
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With all of these self-proclaimed nuggests of praise for the new release, Hanley never comes across as obnoxious or self-absorbed. An easygoing, conversational tone stamps out any question of pop rock pretentiousness--she is a normal person unaffected in her personal life by widespread radio airplay. Whether discussing her favorite Boston bands (Trona, Gravel Pit, Sterlings), pausing to discuss her mother's daily phone call or thinking about the dinner awaiting her, she is in every way a normal person...
...conveying a down-to-earth persona, however, Hanley only subtly hints at the intense emotion that fills her lyrics. When asked about the paring down of slower, more heartfelt songs that characterize Aurora and Wholesale, some of the excitement from within seeps...
...mean to be like that. On the first album (Aurora), some songs were very melancholic, mid-tempo, dark and moody...teenage poetesque," Hanley ponders. "It's a mood thing on this album...fast-paced and rushing reflects what we were feeling...
Frenetic energy is the dominant force propelling GO!--maybe not the most varied but definitely the most adventurous effort by Letter To Cleo. The album's opening right-hook "I Got Time" blasts off into the sonic stratosphere at the heels of Hanley's introduction, "that's the greatest picture I have ever seen/so I stole it for myself so you could see just what I mean/and this alluvial fan it represents my life/I've go the strength the move but...why should I." The beauty of her songwriting lies in its mystery--are the lyrics scatter-brained, piecemeal irrationality...
Aside from figuring out the lyrical motivation, indulge in the addictive chorus of "I Got Time." Hanley jubilantly and rockingly declares, "You take the weight off the heavy notion/I'll take the wave from coast to ocean/that's why the ride is light/it's alright," with perfect background harmonies and studio dubs of Hanley singing complementary lyrics ("disappointment try it out/disappointment it's alright") peppered in at certain points. In addition to the exciting groove throughout the song, new drummer Tom Polce gets a chance to show listeners that he is a wonderfully energetic addition to the Letters To Cleo...