Affinitia
– Do We Go Wrong? (Silverplanes)
Tim Urlacher
(aka Affinitia) wrote his first song in second grade on green paper, the
result of a crush on a classmate. Unfortunately for young Tim, his older sister
found it and acted accordingly, just as all older sisters should when presented
with such a prize. Needless to say, there was considerable embarrassment, but
credit where it’s due, it may have taken a little while to recover his
confidence, but he got back on the songwriting horse. This is the second Affinitia
album I’ve had the pleasure to hear (and write about), though it preceded his
latest recording “These Other Words” by a month or three. Both came out in
2012, and they play like a double album, which is hardly surprising as both
albums were written over the course of several years.
Urlacher consistently writes songs that can’t be
pinned down. I’m sure for the sake of filing systems, he’ll be conveniently
ferreted away under “indie-folk”, but that’s far from the whole story. Names
like Lou Barlow and Elliott Smith come to mind, as do groups such as Admiral
Fallow and Dutch Uncles, and Urlacher’s pop instincts are always to the fore,
providing the hooks that keep us listening. It’s worth taking the time to
really hear his songs, too. Opening with the short but wonderfully sweet “Memorable Times”, which says so much, so well, in a
minute and a half. “Allison” is beautifully
realized love song, though so fragile and inevitably, unrequited. “Cloud of Smoke” is the longest track here; it’s a
tension filled lo-fi epic, underpinned by a trebly strummed acoustic guitar,
and all the hurt Urlacher can channel.
Phil S.
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