Kelley Stoltz: Circular Sounds

Elly Roberts reviews

Kelley Stoltz: Circular Sounds
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  • February 2008
  • Rating: 4/10
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More DIY. Weaker songs, this time.

When Kelley Stoltz released Below The Branches in 2006 he came a stepcloser to making some inroads in the UK, but now he’s gone backwards.

Last time around Kelley Stoltz leaned heavily on a Beach Boys/Beatles templatefor 2006’s Below The Branches, and they pop up here and there again.

Warm sunny sounds all created in his crowded bedroom. This time, it’s more indie,and a little more self-indulgent for the 37-year-old San Francisco resident.There’s a definite change in the songs’ accessibility. Stoltz seems to have goneinward and the claim that this is a ‘pop album’ is way off the mark as was theclaim with Rufus Wainwright’s Release The Stars last year.


Theatricality plays a big part on the sparkling Everything Begins, andyes, those Beach Boys harmonies ain’t to far away. Track 3, BirminghamEccentric (a newspaper as it happens) is actually about an old friend ofStoltz’s, who still lives with his parents, is a jaunty little shuffle withsome nice moments.

Turning to a simpler format, clogging Gardenia is the best up to now.It became a love song, though its origins lay while he worked at a video storewhere the owner kept the flowers on the counter. Then pops up a Kinks-likegem, To Speak To The Girl. It swings with an impressive twanging guitar, whilesweet Put My Troubles gives another nod to Ray Davies and co, fused withthe Fab Four.

Californian ’60s sensations Love would be ‘happy’ to hear his Nearly Lost My Mind,a definite flower-power throwback, and there’s further hippiness bolsteringthe joyous Morning Sun.

Stoltz seems to draw greater inspiration from paying tributes, than honing hisown, distinctive style.

File under: Not that good, but OK.

Weblinks:kelleystoltz.com /myspace.com/kelleystoltz


The full list of tracks included are :

1. Everything Begins
2. Tintinnabulation
3. Birmingham Eccentric
4. Gardenia
5. Mother Nature’s Way
6. To Speak To The Girl
7. Put My Troubles To Sleep
8. When You Forget
9. Your Reverie
10. Nearly Lost My Mind
11. Something More
12. Reflection
13. Morning Sun

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