Cilantro beats
Sam | st. louis, mo USA | 01/26/2004
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Parsley Sound-What the f**k? This was my first reaction as I received this album. I gotta tell ya', I was expecting much as I popped this into my CD player. Well, that old saying is true; never judge a book by its cover.
I was pleasantly surprised as the sweet sounds of; `Ease yourself and Glide' drifted out of my speakers and seduced me with its soft melody. The song was smooth and the beats seem to drift on air. This is reminiscent of sixties pop at its finest.
As the album moved into the next track, `Twilight Mushrooms' I almost turned my stereo off. Everything about this song was totally annoying. The sound was seemingly choppy and the vocals were grating at best.
Luckily, `Spring's Near' is the next song. This tune has all the style and bounce of a great pop song. It picks up where, `Twilight Mushrooms' crashed and lifts it into new heights after the never-ending drone of the previous song.
Another standout track is the very psychedelic, `Stevie'. This song is a short, but mellow, outer-space jam. The track is so relaxing you feel like you're floating through an endless galaxy.
`Templechruchmansions' is one of the most inventive tracks on the album; several genres of music are featured in this one song. It begins with a very rock `n' roll sound-distortion and eases into a slightly psychedelic sound. It soon becomes jazzy stopping short of funk. This is the best track to have a martini and make out with your significant other to.
`Neon Breeze' certainly sounds like a, well, a neon breeze. While I find certain aspects of this song charming, overall, I find it overwhelmingly annoying. This seems to be a continuous monotone buzz. Its redeeming quality is the hidden track which I can only assume is called, `Caution Baby.' This song is fast paced and very dangerous. The bouncin' beats and oh-so-sultry vocals make it easy to love as well as dance to. I think it's one the best tracks on the album. This song could easily break Parsley Sound into the mainstream. If this song doesn't catch your attention, nothing will.
`Never judge a book by its cover.' The Parsley Sound has reminded me about this very valuable lesson. Sometimes the name doesn't encompass the sound. While this album certainly does have its obnoxious points, overall it's an overlooked, underplayed pop gem that will surprise you with every note."
Good, but nothing new to me
Z. Basta | 05/07/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I feel like this might be the type of thing that I would like after a few listens, but I'm really only willing to do that with Radiohead and a few other bands. Something that I'm going out so far on a limb for like this album should be great to me. I liked it, but The Sea and Cake already did it. It didn't sound bad, but it just didn't sound new to me. I had listened to the short clips, but that didn't really give me an idea of the album as a whole. I like it, just not a bunch. If you're really determined to like it, I'd say you should give it many chances and listen to it a bunch."
Well-garnished pyschedelic pop delight
Sheldon Rowan | Brookline, MA United States | 03/06/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I checked out this CD based on the excellent review in pitchforkmedia.com (which I recommend anyone interested in this CD read). I wasn't at all let down. Parsley Sounds perfectly captures this easy laid-back style of psychedelic pop that I just can't get enough of. Like so much good music, its roots are pure Brian Wilson with a healthy dose of the best in current UK pop. Some of the songs evoke memories of The Aislers Set, The Clientele, Super Furry Animals, Beulah, and The Essex Green. There are a few things that keep this CD from sounding all too twee and precious. Notably, the instrumentations are diverse and subtle. It's a beautifully produced CD. There is a creative, dreamy, and pastoral texture throughout most songs that allows the music to wash over your consciousness. It plays like a soundtrack to your daydreams.The standout songs are Twilight Mushrooms, Spring is Near, and Ocean House. These fit in the lush category. At the end of the CD is a surprise track. Neon Breeze is a playful electronicy collage. Think Beta Band's Monolith. It leaves the CD in a tentative state, but serves as an important reminder that you are listening to a contemporary CD by a group with ability and creativity to excel for a long time to come."
