Why does popular music have to make itself so complicated these days? Why can't the agents, the promoters, and the rest of them just let the music speak for itself? The tendency toward making intellectual-sounding claims about a pop song or group's antecedents is not only ridiculous, it sets up expectations that no pop song can ever live up to.

There's also the fact that the whole genre thing seems to have just gone completely out of control. Can anybody tell me the difference between rock and roll, roots rock, country rock, rock, hard rock, alt-rock, classic rock, and golden oldies? Obviously there are differences between rock and roll and soul music or rhythm and blues, but every time I've been forced to listen to the radio recently, everything has sounded the same with the occasional slow wailing ballad thrown in to show their sensitivity.

When I read Dan Bejar, one half of the new duo Hello, Blue Roses, describe the music on his and Sydney Vermont's new disc as being "completely untethered to any of the bullshit streams coursing through the scene right now", I was of two minds. First, because I've heard his music before and respect it, I'm hopeful about the prospect of hearing good solid pop music, but I have to admit to a little nervousness at the vagueness of that statement. It could mean absolutely anything.

Thankfully, after listening to The Portrait Is Finished And I Have Failed To Capture Your Beauty, Hello, Blue Roses' debut CD on the Locust Music label, it turns out he's referring to returning to a less complicated approach to pop music. What, after all, should be less complicated than a collection of pop songs written and performed by a duo?

They have focused on creating songs with lyrics and music that work together regardless of genre classifications or what may or may not sell. They approach each song individually and ensure that the arrangement fulfills the needs of the lyric and the overall impression they want the piece to create. The result is thirteen original tracks, and one cover (Kevin Ayer's "Hymn"), that are reflections of their musical tastes and nothing else.

The most prominent feature of this recording is without a doubt Sydney Vermont's voice. She has a strong and clear soprano she is not afraid to let shine. Right from the start you know it will be playing an important part in the proceedings, as the opening song "Hello Blue Roses" starts with her in full voice. It was a bit disconcerting to hear a high, clear soprano at top volume coming through headphones with no musical build-up, but there's no doubt that it gets your attention.