Lavender Diamond

"I’ll never stop a bullet/But a bullet might stop me/I’ll never drink the ocean/But the ocean might drink me," sings Becky Stark in a voice that partially floats and partially soars amidst Lavender Diamond’s acoustic slow-waltz. It’s a new day, Lavender Diamond might say, one where peace and love replace war (and irony). Despite the liner-note photo of Stark in the midst of stars and blue sky and nature’s wonders, the band sounds melancholic in spots, shading her vocals with subtlety, combining all the sunniness with a tiny touch of Elliott Smith--even if Stark sings things like "Oh I must be on the side of the Lord" without a trace of irony. The piano, acoustic guitar, and percussion vibe is perfect here, muted for "I’ll Never Lie Again" and bolder for "Oh No," which associates crummy weather with lovelessness, a sentiment that’s almost funny in such an upbeat, airy setting. --Andrew Ba ...

2007-05-07 - Matador Records