Spanish for 100 is a welcome change, the proverbial breath of fresh air. I have to admit I was blown away, disappointed only by the limited number of songs on the album. I wanted more, immediately. It's not that Spanish for 100 betrays its Seattle roots by opting for super happy upbeat music. Not by a long shot. For me, this album is perfect for a rainy, lazy Sunday afternoon, sitting on the couch, reading the paper and drinking tea. It's not party music. It's just completely enjoyable and fresh sounding. They somehow manage to stay safely within the confines of conventional indie-rock without sounding stale or exactly like a million other bands out there. Each song is unique but conforms remarkably well to the overall feel and sound of the album.
I can't say enough about the quality of the production, which makes sense because it is the product of indie darling Phil Ek, who has worked with such enviable groups as Modest Mouse and The Shins. Spanish for 100 is comprised of Ross McGilvray, Chris Crumpler, Aaron Starkey and Corey Passons and this is their sophomore effort. I've noticed that emerging bands tend to pair either excellent song writing skills with a mediocre sound or fantastic musicianship with rather shallow lyrics. Spanish For 100, however, is the complete package. Their song writing is deep and heartfelt and their music varies from loud stadium rock to soft indie-rock with terrific melodies.
"Go Away, Come Home," the opening song on the album, is extremely catchy, with a great melody and a slow, lazy sound. It's definitely one of my favourites. "Jungle with Lions" slows down the pace even more than the opener and has great instrumental interludes, time when the band can really show off their musical talent. I love Passon's vocals on this track. It's clear and slightly nasal, but in a good way. The production on this song is amazing, the sound is fantastic. It's way more polished than what you find from most emerging artists.
"Fell a Bird" speeds things up, but still offers a fantastic melody and hook. The electric guitars really come out to play on this one. It's louder and more akin to stadium rock than their other tracks that tend to have a more folkish quality about them.
This is truly a fantastic album, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised if you pick it up. I hope that Spanish for 100 amasses enough of a following to record a full length album because really, six songs hardly seem adequate.
