The folk music landscape is overwhelmed with talented bands with melodic voices and precocious musicians. With such an abundance of riches, it can be difficult to make a mark in what is a laid back, but crowded stage.
Enter the new band Screen Door. We have, ladies and gentlemen, found a winner.
Screen Door is your classic "guy who knows this other guy and brought in a third to form this collaboration" type of band. Featuring guitarist Ben Wakeman, keyboardist Tom Willner, and percussionist Chris Kearney, Screen Door is a diverse trio of accomplished musicians who in their debut album, Greener, have managed to stand out from the pack and create their own style.
Greener is a little bit country, a little bit bluegrass, a little bit 70s folk rock, and even a little gospel ("Sing It Out"). While sampling a grandiose meshing of styles, this album at its core is sweet, melodic folk pop that lulls the listener into its dreamy arms. What does not become readily apparent is just how intricate and well-put together Greener is. Thus, its appeal. Its simplicity ably and artfully masks its beautiful complexity. It is not readily noticeable on a first listen, but surfaces with a second, third, and fourth listen.
Wakeman and Willner alternate lead/backup vocal duties on this album and their voices blend into an impeccable composite that flows seamlessly from song to song. The instrumentation and production values are first-rate and range from the hauntingly sparse ("No One to Hold") to a joyous tune reminiscent of the Vigilantes of Love ("Shine for Me"). Underlying the entire album is a laid-back, sometimes introspective, always light, tone that lacks the fluff of contemporary pop and instead gives the listener a healthy dose of intelligent music.
Lyrically, this album cannot miss. Wakeman and Willner share the majority of the song writing duties and touch upon hurt and sadness ("Battery Park"), the joy of childhood ("Madeline Rose"), and the hope of renewal in the stand-out title track "Greener." In "Greener," the Wakeman/Willner duo offer comforting lyrics such as:
When you smile I can see into your beautiful soul/
Eyes open like windows first day of spring/
When you know everything will heal in time/
And Grow back greener.
Screen Door is an impressive band with an equally impressive debut. Accessible, yet not bland, Greener proves an album can be of substance while not sacrificing its uniqueness in the process. Great music and highly recommended.
4 tocks
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