Adult Books
Grecian Urn
Taxi Gauche Records
Where has this band been hiding? On Grecian Urn, Adult Books’ second full-length album, the L.A. band reveals a sound heavily indebted to the dreamier side of post-punk, with major nods to the Cure and Modern English, among others.
The band knows their way around a hook, especially in songs like “Dreams,” which would rest perfectly on an early ’90s mixtape intended for a possible romantic partner. Hints of the Pastels, the Pains of Being Pure at Heart, and a touch of the Sarah Records catalog are evident throughout the album, and it’s hard to believe that just three people are responsible for all this dreampop.
The haunting “Florence” is the single selected off the album, which makes sense, as this simple song encompasses many of the strengths of Grecian Urn, sounding somewhat familiar and wistful. There’s a lot to like on Grecian Urn, a jangly, pop-infused album from a band that should be better known.
