There's so much of the new Janelane record that feels familiar even as so much of it succeeds in spite of that familiarity. We may have heard some of this before -- in records by Velocity Girl and Alvvays, for example -- but Sophie Negrini has found a way to make this feel fresh again. As a result, Love Letters, the new Janelane album, charms immensely.
Opener "Band Aid" and the more complex "Useless" favor a dense sound, one which lets the songs soar. Elsehwere, "Crush Me" nods more in the direction of The Sundays, even as the tune works in elements of shoegaze. The material here is not complicated, and it's wisely uncluttered. Still, there's heft to these compositions and most of them are fairly catchy. It certainly helps that Sophie Negrini's voice is perfectly suited to this kind of material. The vocals make this all go down sweetly, and the guitars give it bite and sass.
Fans of any of the bands I've referenced should find lots to love here, and for those looking for other styles there are hints -- the twang-y "One Way Streets", for one -- of more variety in the Janelane arsenal. Still, Sophie's winsome vocal delivery is what gives these pop songs so much flavor. Love Letters as a result seems perfectly suited for cranking up loud this spring/summer.
Love Letters by Janelane is out now. Details below.
[Photo: Janelane]