Fallon
Cush – April (Independent)
Fallon Cush, though ostensibly the vehicle of Australian
singer-songwriter Steve Smith, effortlessly tap into the pop traditions of
Crowded House, Marshall Crenshaw and The Jayhawks. Which is to say Smith writes
perfectly crafted hook-laden songs, and his regular band supply an animated,
always appropriate, roots-pop backing. I’m sure that’s an over simplification,
but isn’t that the joy of great pop music; Fallon Cush make the process sound
effortless, and the listener reaps the benefits.
There 2011 self-titled debut grabbed plenty of
headlines and found itself on plenty of year-end best-of lists. I’ll be amazed
if “April” isn’t just as successful. Its charms are many and will surely appeal
to anyone with an appreciation of great tunes, grown-up songwriting and an
insatiable desire to join in on a chorus.
Just about everything here would sound perfectly at
home on a quality radio station, but I must mention a few tracks in particular
or I won’t sleep tonight. Opener “It's a Line” sets the scene with lush Hammond organ
underpinning a melody which could have been lifted from an early Be Bop Deluxe
album, but retains an earthiness which connects on every level. “Forever After” is ambitious and
marvelous, and tips its cap to both Gary Louris and Jeff Tweedy, while “Honey Honey” is quite simply a
perfect example of rural, honest-to-goodness, country-pop.
Rob F.
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