The Gecko Club
Evergreen
NorthLight Records
Evergreen is the second full-length album from Chicago band, The Gecko Club, and despite the promise of “guitar-pop for a world gone mad”, it sounds more like guitar-pop for a world gone to bed. Drawing from influences like Big Country, The Replacements, and The Connells, The Gecko Club deliver songs that are pleasant, but not much else. I don’t know how the live show is, but there is definitely a lack of energy on the album.
The only other complaint is the lack of direction on Evergreen. The first seven tracks seem to be full of the jangly guitar-driven pop the band is known for, but the last eight delve into flute-and-violin-oriented folk music that really comes out of nowhere. It seems as though the band didn’t know whether it wanted to be a power-pop band or a folk-rock band. And unfortunately, the two competing genres create a disparate album.
There are a few tracks worth taking a listen to though. The lush arrangement, calm vocals, and sweeping melodies on “Evergreen” make it the best track on the album. “Brand New Hope” comes in at number two for its abrasive heavy metal drumming and distorted guitar hooks; a definite anomaly on the album. Lastly there’s “My Lovely My Sea,” a haunting folk ballad that would’ve made a great last track.
Word on the street is these guys put on a very entertaining live show. My advice: skip the album, go to the show and report back here.
The Gecko Club: http://www.geckoclub.com
