With its mix of vocal harmony, acoustic guitars, and brushed percussion,
Angus & Julia Stone
's debut recalls the lush, cuddle-up-in-bed indie folk of
the Weepies
and
KaiserCartel
.
A Book Like This
takes strength from its two young songwriters, both of whom approach love and coming-of-age issues from their own gendered perspective.
Julia Stone
plays the part of the quirky ingenue, her vocals fluttering like a young
Joanna Newsom
over homespun melodies and gauzy instrumental backdrops. "I blame you, Hollywood," she softly chastises, "for showing me things you never should show a young girl." Strings and glockenspiels chime in the background, swirling around the refrain before giving way to
"Just a Boy,"
where brother
Angus
details an awkward encounter with the fairer sex. He matches his sister's soft, unadorned croon throughout the album, whether he's helming G-rated material like
"Bella"
(sample lyric: "There goes the gal in the pretty skirt with the golden smile") or planning a visit to a friend's house for the sole purpose of getting stoned (
"Jewels and Gold"
). Drug references notwithstanding, the bulk of this debut revels in its own adolescence, focusing on fairy tale folk songs and pastoral imagery. For those who have a taste for such fanciful material,
is an appropriate soundtrack for lazy Sunday afternoons and slow Monday mornings, when the pace of the world matches the relaxed gait of this band. ~ Andrew Leahey