Bay Area duo The Chutes make jangle-pop that echoes stuff like Jeanines. The laconic delivery of Kenneth Turner and the supporting vocals from Erika Calderon-Turner sell the approach here. And lots of this pair's self-titled mini-album is very engaging.
The bright "Like Waves" has a nice hook, great percussion, and a wistful vibe that makes for great indie. Elsewhere, the fine "Nowhere in Particular" has guitar-lines like something from The Ocean Blue, and vocals like any number of C86 bands. It's sort of down-tempo but still catchy, and the kind of doleful jangle-pop that's very easy to digest.
The Chutes is full of winning music, though nothing you haven't heard a dozen times already. Still, it's hard to not like this kind of thing, and the brief running time makes this a record that never overstays its welcome. This is another fine release from Dandy Boy Records.
The Chutes by The Chutes is out this week on Dandy Boy Records.
[Photo: Dandy Boy Records]