Album Details

• Artist: Acbs
• Album: Little Leaves
• Label: High Dive
• Year of Release: 2013
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: nlathy on 2013-03-08

The group from Kansas City sounds pretty good on album No. 2.

There aren't any standout songs. But there aren't any clinkers either. A pair of tracks, which total slightly more than 3:00 get things started.

The band gets better, when the music is faster. They cite the early Beatles as an influences. This would probably stem from the sound of the guitars. The vocals call to mind later Beatles with Beach Boys backing vocals thrown in. Konnor Ervin sounds like John Lennon.

It wouldn't be fair to simply compare them to two of the greatest bands of all time. We can admire their taste. Knowledge of past music would account for a dated song title such as "Record Store." It still has a good sound even if you are listening to the cut on your computer.

The music can get bouncy, but the lyrics can get sad. This is the case in "All Over."

The band at heart is pop-rock. The band falls most squarely into pop on the strongest cut "Lover Yeah." The hooks work with the lyrics tilling familiar pop soil, examining the potential for romance in a relationship.

With the pop tendencies these guys aren't likely to get morose. It makes sense to have a song called "No Kink In My Costume."

There are some ordinary song titles such as "Ocean," "Plants" and "Attic Fan." It calls to mind the Beach Boys Love You, their landmark 70s album (the only one I've heard of theirs from the decade).  All these songs work, which is more important than title length.

"Xanies" is where they rock the hardest. And the band seems comfortable with the sound. The guitar work of Bryan McGuire, Andrew Connor and Ervin is delightful throughout the album. Drummer Kyle Rausch does his part, also.

Subtlety isn't beyond their grasp. It's achieved on "Under Weight."

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