Record Review : Forest City Lovers

Forest City Lovers - Carriage   2/5

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Indie folk/pop band Forest City Lovers, return with their sophomore album, Carriage the follow-up to their successful debut The Sun and the Wind. For anyone unfamiliar with the Toronto based outfit, lead by singer-songwriter Kat Burns, the band has made a name for themselves as a captivating folk-pop act.

Carriage by all accounts is a departure from the band's usual sound, and while the record is more adventurous in rock, and pop elements than it's more folksy predecessor, it is not necessarily a complete success. Much of the first half of the album feels like Burns and company have been brushing up on their Paul McCartney, post-Beatles and Fleetwood Mac, with songs like 'Tell Me Cancer' arguably the records best track, and 'Minneapolis' but what initially seems promising becomes your typical indie pop record. 

The album suffers from tracks like 'Oh The Wolves' and 'If I Were A Tree', the latter of which was recently featured as itunes 'Single of the Week' in Canada, are overly cute and attempt to lighten the album's mood, and the darker tones of Burns writing. A limited vocal range and at many times what feels like phoned in vocals, Burns' fails to carry the emotional weight of some lyrics convincingly. Though the instrumentals are sound and the songs are well-written, Carriage doesn't have much bite, it's safe, simple and ultimately is a bit of a snooze.