PopSyndicate.com

How can a band be so charming, witty, and mean-spirited all at the same time?

There’s nothing I like more when it comes to alt-pop bands than a sharp sense of humor to compliment the musical stylings. From the moment A Big yes and a Small No’s debut begins, you can’t help but be drawn in by the bouncy, whimsical combination of acoustic guitar, trumpets, keyboard, and vibraphone, followed by the unbridled silliness of the opening lyric (“Yesterday, I robbed a bank and blew it all on flowers”). It’s this coy charm and wit that immediately hooks you in, as things only get more absurd. “I’m Always Manic (When I’m Around You)” certainly qualifies for one of the weirder love songs in recent memory, as lead singer Kevin Kendrick offers up more off-the-wall lyrics; “like starting a bloodless coup/ the movement’s on and the revolution is you”. It’s cute and disturbing at the same time.

As an album, Jesus That Looks Terrible On You definitely aims to be clever and even a little satirical, making for a collection of satisfying songs. Slightly mean-spirited in its lyrics, “Composure” is still a delightful piano-driven duet with background vocalist Moira Meltzer-Cohen, while “Jesus That Looks Terrible On You” is more of a somber, rock-heavy pseudo ballad. Oddly enough, it’s followed up by the boisterous “Faded Away”, a throwback to the uptempo beatnik surf-rock of the 60s. The band throws listeners for a loop yet again, however, with “If You Won’t Beg”. Deliciously seedy in its faux-romanticism, the song evokes feelings of being out at make-out point, and all the awkward emotions that could come with it.

Normally I can’t stand when an album is as brief as Jesus That Looks Terrible On You (boasting only eight songs, with a few coming in below the three-minute mark), but the quality of the music goes a long way. Every track is immensely enjoyable, with smart and funny lyrics, and well-crafted melodies. It’s a feel-good album that’s not afraid to take listeners down into the dumps.

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