Swirling, structured, and diverse, the Radio's debut, Numbers, Birds, & the Mysteries of the Human Mind is a triumph of hype-less, inspired pop. Recorded on a shoestring budget, the disc is startlingly well-produced. Vibrant, rich soundscapes lift the band's urban coolness out of the druggy... [+] Expand

Swirling, structured, and diverse, the Radio's debut, Numbers, Birds, & the Mysteries of the Human Mind is a triumph of hype-less, inspired pop. Recorded on a shoestring budget, the disc is startlingly well-produced. Vibrant, rich soundscapes lift the band's urban coolness out of the druggy ambivalence that has haunted alternative pop since the Velvet Underground. Every song is an earnest exploration in a different direction, instilled with a cosmopolitan interest in every quirky electric sound to come from the various parts of the Pacific Rim. The focus and polish of each song is strikingly infectious. Tracks such as "Crystal Blue" and "Sonny Daze" are ready for radio play and are user-friendly enough for mainstream listeners. The debt to Brian Wilson is palpable, but the songs are packed with the band's personal touches. Other less recognizably pop songs such as "All of Fer (I love)" and "Instant Natural Jellyfish" are sprawling, Eurasian musical atmospheres which immerse the listener in their seductive ambience. Nothing on this recording slows it down much, though its diversity probably should have made that a problem. Nor does its Beta Band-like song structure originality come off as arty or deliberately critic pleasing. The simple, unassuming love of songs is the prevailing spirit of the recording. Numbers, Birds, & the Mysteries of the Human Mind is an enviable debut. ~ John Keillor, All Music Guide [-] Collapse

• songs
• similar
• videos
• eyeviews
• reviews
• download directory