“Leaves Do Fall”
from the album Birds Make Good Neighbors
2005
iTunes
Download an MP3 of “Leaves Do Fall” from the band’s website
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On their sophomore album, Birds Make Good Neighbors, the Rosebuds (comprised of husband-and-wife team Ivan Howard and Kelly Crisp, with contributions from Lee Waters on drums and Wes Phillips on stand-up bass) give us almost 40 minutes of tightly-wound joyful enthusiasm, full of “woos,” “woahs” and “aahs.” Birds Make Good Neighbors flourishes with the sugary sweetness of ’60s pop combined with the spine of ’70s rock and roll. It’s an album about choices, survival and love — and it’s really good.
Based out of Raleigh, N.C. (which is also where their label, Merge Records, calls home), the Rosebuds feature Howard’s clear, smooth voice on top of his sonic guitar hooks, Crisp’s full-bodied retro key effects and Waters’ repetitive, straight-ahead drumming style on songs such as the Kinks-inspired, shout-out-loud “Shake Our Tree” and nod-along “Hold Hands and Fight.” Meanwhile, the catchy “Boxcar,” with the chorus of “But I’m not crazy I’m just a little boy / And you’re not crazy your just a little girl” and the upbeat, back-and-forth vocals of Howard and Crisp on “Leaves Do Fall” are destined to still ring in your ears days after listening to them. The get-up-and-fight “Outnumbered” will appeal to a more energetic crowd, but perhaps the strongest weapons come when the Rosebuds take it down a notch, such as on the jazzy, poetic “Wildcat,” the hypnotic “Blue Bird” and “4-track Love Song,” which closes out the album and hits the spot for those looking to calm down. Either way, the Rosebuds’ arsenal has something for everyone.
Basically, Birds Make Good Neighbors is a strong statement filled with hook after hook of indie-pop goodness. It’s a fun and engaging listening experience that could really only come from this happily married couple who truly love what they do. This album won’t change your life, but it will put a smile on your face.