Artist: Aqueduct
Album: I Sold Gold
Label: Barsuk
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars
Web: http://www.aqueductisgoodmusic.com
The Indie talent is rolling in waves this year. Aqueduct is one of many one-man-bands that have caught my attention and helped put a big smile on my face in 2005. 27 year-old David Terry is the man behind the band, which he named after the giant aqueduct project in California. Relocated to Seattle from Oklahoma, his self-produced ditties caught the attention of Ben Gibbard (Death Cab For Cutie) and the rest is history. Aqueduct’s first full-length record was released on Seattle’s Barsuk Records early this year. Some good luck to be sure, but it didn’t stop there. Mr. Terry got another big break when the track “Hardcore Days For Softcore Nights” appeared on The O.C., which has become an Indie music launching pad of sorts.
The record was co-produced in professional and home studios with Matt Pence and includes both previously released and brand new songs. It starts off in superb fashion with “The Suggestion Box”, which instantly grabbed my attention. A wave of feedback filled the air followed by a beautiful, melodic piano line that brought Grandaddy to mind. It all came swirling from my speakers like an old friend. Familiar. Catchy. Comfortable. The electronic drumbeats kicked in and an excellent foundation was laid for David Terry’s love-obsessed lyrics. The words on “I Sold Gold” are woman-centric to be sure. Don’t expect brilliant wordplay, this is standard teenager stuff we’re talking about.
“Instead of beating me up / You should be giving me hope… / I’d never leave you / Screaming for my love”
The melodies and harmonies are the true heroes here. They carry the record even when some of the electronic elements become distracting, which they do a number of times. Maybe I’m just too old, but the synthesized sounds just became too fuzzy and loud at times, effectively drowning out the beauty that lay beyond the haze. I did however, hear some of the same things that attract me to bands like Grandaddy, Eels, The Postal Service and The Flaming Lips, but Aqueduct’s sound is more raw, dare I say inexperienced? Although I hate an over-polished sound more than anything, I believe Aqueduct would benefit from some tightening up. A few of the tracks I would not change at all (The Suggestion Box, Hardcore Days and Softcore Nights, Five Star Day), but the few that show inconsistency are enough to keep it from being one of those “OH, MY GOD, THIS ROCKS!” albums. It comes close, but doesn’t quite make it over the hill.
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