the mantles // long enough to leave

Today I received a copy of the San Francisco/Oakland-based The Mantles’ latest album Long Enough To Leave. I’m giving it two thumbs up. Why? Because it deserves it. I’ve been listening to it’s sparkling low-key 10-track, but brilliantly rendered LP. Song after song possesses a Beach Boy soft à la folkish rock quiality; both modernistic and contemporary. My favorites are powder soft Raspberry Thighs and the feisty Brown Balloon (the later track has a kinda sorta Black Francis/The Pixies vibe). Lead vocalist Michael Olivares delivers each song in his plaintive lovelorn voice, which makes each and every word sound authentically woeful, yet oddly hopeful too Continue reading “the mantles // long enough to leave”