As the world of indie pop continues to elevate around the heads of the Philadelphia-based power pop set The Trolleyvox, one can only hope their number comes up one of these days. Consistent providers of solid music since the turn of the millennium, the 'vox are a band you can't help but become a fan of after listening to one of their incredibly fun albums. A special treat is in store for all those who hear Your Secret Safe and Luzerne, released as a double-CD set early this month, as the band offers up a whopping 22 songs, most of which you just can't resist.
Your Secret Safe kicks off with the 70's rocker Call on You, which may be the most addictive song of all the new material. Guitarist Andrew Chalfen broadens his licks with some nostalgic '70s solos; it's a perfect setup for the first four songs of the album, which are just as strong as anything on the 2003 critical hit …Present the Karaoke Meltdowns.
Perhaps the best way to consider the quality of the Trolleyvox's material, though, is to point out where they slip up. The effort is more reserved and subtle overall than Meltdowns. As such, the upbeat numbers in the electric Your Secret Safe can set the disc askew. While "Rabbit in the Sun" gives off a happy-go-lucky beat behind its irrational lyrical backbone, "Jean Jacket" and "Cricket in Euphoria" are overly long for their content. It's forgivable, largely because lead singer Beth Filia's voice is downright irresistible in "Jean Jacket" and the Chalfen's guitar provides a great vibe throughout "Cricket," but the numbers could still have been cut.
The real strength of the set lies in Luzerne, which almost exclusively features Filia's voice and Chalfen's guitar. The pair compliment each other perfectly, Chalfen's songwriting leading Filia's smoky vocal. As a stark, acoustic-based album, it should please anyone who is a fan of Elliot Smith or Nick Drake. The disc is a marked departure from the jangle pop foundation that the Trolleyvox had built upon in past albums, but it's a refreshing change of pace and an ingenious way to showcase the duo's range of talent.
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