You might never imagine that a record label from Spain would offer up an album from a Birmingham, Alabama band that sounds like L.A.'s Paisley Underground heyday, right? The new one from Slack Times, Casting, positively rings with pop promise. When folks say jangle-rock, this is exactly the sort of thing they are talking about.
Opener "Right Time" swirls like The Three O'Clock, while the more stately "Goodbye" recalls recent efforts from acts like The Laughing Chimes and Chime School. Slack Times are adept at this, and there's no wasted moment on this brief record. All nine cuts on Casting sound like the best thing you've heard in weeks, and it's a little silly to try to highlight just one. That said, "Cast-out" might be my fave since its echoes of R.E.M.'s "Carnival of Sorts (Boxcars)", while obvious, make this so easy to play a bunch of times.
I think this is the second full-length from Slack Times but I can't wait for the next. Casting is smartly done, and more enjoyable in its brief running time than records three times its length. Highly recommended.
Casting by Slack Times is out now via Meritorio Records.
[Photo: Haley Rountree]