Capsule Review: The Wedding Present's El Rey

If you had a thing for indie pop at some point in the '80s, or the '90s, you've probably heard the Wedding Present (not to be confused with the Birthday Party, under any circumstances -- lest you lose your indie street cred and get shunned by people with ill-advised mustaches -- though easily, and understandably, confused with Cinerama). El Rey is the second record out from the Wedding Present after they broke a lengthy hiatus with 2005's Take Fountain. Frontman David Gedge's penchant for bittersweet love songs and catchy hooks remains intact, but the album strikes a hair dark. The production is classic Steve Albini -- lots of sharp, clean sound and actual dynamics, so there's more to the record than plain old loud. Gedge's current residence, Hollywood, is a clear presence on the album, peppered with songs titles including "Santa Ana Winds" and "Spider-Man on Hollywood." For those of us who grew up with a steady diet of John Hughes movies, it's easy to get sucked into the breathless self-pity of tracks like "The Trouble With Men." In fact, perhaps the best summary of this album is that moment in the Breakfast Club near the end when the Smiths' "How Soon is Now" comes into the soundtrack. It sounds the way that feels, a collection of songs for tough, sad people who are perhaps more self-aware than they should be. Sum total, the album is a solid effort, and even the weaker tracks work well enough that they fade into the background rather than stand out.