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![_Heat Things Up With <em>Desire</em> at the Blanton [Art Preview]](http://austinist.com/assets_c/2010/02/minter-thumb-110x110-478584.jpg)
Heat Things Up With Desire at the Blanton [Art Preview]
The best thing this effort has to offer is its terrifically timely and magnetic aesthetic of nostalgia for the new. At its high points, Baird seamlessly cobbles together a fresh sound that is both reminiscent (of 60s glam and 70s psychedelia) and of-the-moment, nodding to albums like Department of Eagles’ In Ear Park, dating all the way back to last year. (But yes, we were missing it already.)
Surely this nostalgia by the youth, for youth, is achieved by Sunset’s folk music foundation iced over with electronic decoration and confectionery vocal harmonies. with analog keyboards lending a hand. For the most part, Gold Dissolves To Gray shambles along likeably. At its best—such as the title track and “Our Dreams Did Weave a Shade”—winsome melodic hooks are delivered by a tinny, metallic guitar and create the highly livable texture of faded denim.
But this is an album demarcated along a sharp line between shimmery moments like these and patently strained Americana. In turns, it dives headlong into the waters of twee- see “Rivers of Babylon” and “Garden of Eden.” These may be ear-grabbing, but are ultimately throwaway attempts best reserved for fireside sing-a-longs to which you might consider wearing your cutest cardigan. (The instrumentation, however, never bores.)
It’s mostly forgivable that Baird’s lyrics frequently teeter into self-indulgence; his lines also have a charming way of cartwheeling straight on past the point at which you though they were ending. “Bones” sounds like saloon music for twiggy hipsters at a day party, so raise your Lone Star tallboys to its unabashed poppy hooks. This trend of updated, clean-cut psychedelia seems here to stay, and you’ll get no complaints from us.
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Gold Dissolves to Gray will be released from Autobus on November 24th digitally and as LP/CD combo; you can preview the opener here: [Autobus]
Sunset [Myspace][Official]
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Hating on cardigans? Sheesh.