THE SKINNY: Sherwood's Qu is an excellent example of catchy, well-produced, simple, and safe indie-pop that will appeal to fans of the genre, but like most things, isn't for everyone.MYSPACE: http://myspace.com/sherwood
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/realsherwood
YOUTUBE: http://youtube.com/sherwoodband
PURCHASE: http://www.sherwoodmusic.net/
Sherwood have returned with their fourth release, Qu; a bold statement toward a general maintenance of the band's youth despite its veteran status in the pop / rock world. Unlike most indie-pop bands that tend to slow down, "mature" musically, and eventually disband after a few releases, Sherwood have successfully grabbed hold of their career as a band and punctuated their already popular catalog with what will no doubt be the band's quintessential record.
Qu is musically similar to Relient K's more recent work with a heavier focus on audience supported anthems. Everything on the record is fully conducive to loud sing-alongs, with the exception of two more acoustic-driven ballads entitled "Worn" and the album's closer, "No Better". Nate Henry, the band's lead vocalist and bassist, sings confidently while behind him an effective, albeit slightly too cute, band harmonizes every catchy hook making for a very ear friendly experience. The album isn't particularly deep or complex, by any means, but the strength of Qu, for me, lies in the overall pleasantness of each track.
The pretty nature of the music here, however, might not be enough to delight fans of more aggressive stuff.Qu is definitely a very glossy, pretty record that probably won't change the music world. The instrumentation is simple and well-executed, but not risky, raw, or spontaneous. This play-it-safe sound is acceptable and doesn't need an explanation, especially from a band with a great and clearly content following. So, if you're like me and hard to please and often turned off by very poppy stuff, you probably won't find Qu very satisfying. If you're not like me and you like catchy melodies, music you can blast and sing along to with friends, and bands that are committed to delivering their fans exactly what they want, than Sherwood's Qu is probably just what the doctor ordered.
FAVORITE TRACK: "Not Gonna Love," "Free"
FOR FANS OF: Relient K,Waking Ashland
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