album review: the paper scissors, in loving memory

No, you haven’t heard this one before. It’s the new album by The Paper Scissors, In Loving Memory – another drop in the ocean that is Australia’s present repertoire of indie music.

That sounds a bit harsh. Or overly jaded. So let me expand on that by saying that this is a solid album. I mean, what with my current liking for The National, there is no way I wasn’t going to enjoy this album at least to some extent. Indeed, anyone who likes their music of the indie/alternative/garage-pop/rock variety can have no serious objections. Just be aware that you are not going to get anything here that is altogether pushing the boundaries.

Before I mention my other quibble with this album, something must be said of the yin to what is all unfortunately coming across as yang.

The songs here are insistent, yet controlled. Jai Pynes’s vocals are powerful and aware of it; he lets the pounding of the drums and synthetic beats forge on without breaking his own rhythm. The instruments, vocals, synth and sound effects all blend together in an applaudably mature and polished way. In Loving Memory is a well-made, rad collection of tunes, and it does not take several listens to figure it out.

And now here it is, it cannot be helped:

It would seem that The Paper Scissors have forgotten the fact that they are in fact from terra australis, with Pynes’s vocals coming out with that ubiquitous American twang – much like ­those of Eskimo Joe’s Kavyen Temperley. In all fairness to Pynes, however, the obvious should be stated: namely, that all but a few brave Australians musicians sing with that familiar, homely accent so butchered by any foreigner who tries to put it on. In fact many artists, the world over, seem to adopt a kind of homogeneous, U.S.-influenced, accent when crooning their tunes. I mention it here then, because it struck me particularly with this album; I had originally thought that The Paper Scissors were natives, but had to double check when I started listening.

I will end by re-stating, as it really doesn’t seem to come across this way, that I do in fact like this album. I have every intention of continuing to listen to it after this review is done and posted. I am even planning to attend The Paper Scissors upcoming gig at Jive in Adelaide on June 25. But at the end of the day, In Loving Memory is a bit ‘brick in the wall’…just sayin’.

Okay, maybe I am just a little jaded.