Old cars don’t have MP3 hookups, and those radio receivers always dissolve into static. Trusty steeds take CDs, and yours needs summer music. Short of burning yourself a copy of this mixtape, you need a new love.
Here it is: “Actor-Caster
Generationals plays the sort of perky, bouncy indie pop that’s only applicable from April to September. As soon as the mercury hits 70?, this goes in. As soon as the leaves start to turn, this will be out.
But in between? Goodness gracious.
This is glorious summer music. Ringing pianos, buzzing bass and tidy distorted guitars make this an exuberant experience. If you blast “Black and White” while driving on a county road, it’s as close to a movie as you’re going to get. “Ten-Twenty-Ten” is beginning-of-an-epic-road-trip music. “Greenleaf” is perky exit music for a rom-com. This whole album means little, but “depth” is a relatively unimportant concept when you’re hollering “You Say It Too” or “I Promise” at the top of your lungs.
The one beef I have with “Actor-Caster” is that several times, the band could have gone for broke with the arrangement (don’t you have any friends with a trumpet?) and holds back. There’s no massive guitar-mashing moment, no triumphant crescendo. It’s just … I mean … it coulda been … oh, well. It’s still great.
But, hey, isn’t that what summer’s like, anyway? —Stephen Carradini
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