the flat five

The Flat Five (from the album Another World available on Pravda Records / Augiedisc) (by Bryant Liggett)
Sugary sweet, big and catchy, the latest release from The Flat Five furthers the band’s pursuit of Indie Pop perfection. The Flat Five resume is stacked in favor of the home team. Vocalists Kelly Hogan and Nora O’Connor have both done time backing Neko Case in her solo work while the rest of the band have made music with NRBQ, Mavis Staples, Iron & Wine, and Jakob Dylan among others. Call them an Indie supergroup via the lineup because that’s what The Flat Five are, and Another World, the recent release from the Chicago, Illinois-based group, is superb.
The record opens with “Drip A Drop”, a subtle groove bouncing the listener along, its guitar solo dark and fun with The Flat Five calling for some nationwide unity as they state ‘America, we’re giving you a warning, we’re making love not no stinking Civil War’. “Look at the Birdy” has a Schoolhouse Rock influenced, cool Jazz vibe and “The Great State of Texas” is a sad, cowboy song that turns into a woeful death-row confession as the narrator runs down a list of her last wishes…a murder ballad where the killer is the state of Texas. “Butterflies Don’t Bite” with its vibraphone and piano keeps a slick pace, “Oh What A Day” is a playing hooky and skipping school soundtrack, and album closer, “Over and Out”, is a fast-paced blast of fun. The Flat Five bang out lines like ‘split the scene’ exhibiting a cool hipness without becoming hipster. Trumpets turn a bunch of tunes into bouncing, party-fun, and there’s an animated flavor that makes it a swinging kids record for everyone. It’s a good-time record that’s flat out and Flat Five fun. (by Bryant Liggett)
Listen and buy the music of The Flat Five from AMAZON
 
For more info, check out The Flat Five website
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