A Poor Man’s Verve? The skinny on those four dudes from Seattle is that they are nothing more than neo-psychedelic Verve re-gurgitators. While that notion cannot be completely denied, categorizing them as simply a two- bit, Northwestern Yankee version of said band would not do (The Purrs) any justice. The Purrs’ sonically laid back output has many more influences, including the hazy melancholy of Echo and The Bunnymen, the soothing detachment of Mazzy Star, and the narcotic folk of the Cowboy Junkies.
The Purrs have touted this self-titled, record-label debut as ‘greatest hit’ album because it contains two songs from their second EP -No Particular Bar, No Particular Town, 2004 and seven songs from their DIY oeuvre -The Dreams Our Stuff Is Made Of, 2005. Therefore, if you are a Purrs-head, there is nothing new to discover. However, if you haven’t been tuned to Seattle’s cutting edge KEXP, than you are in for a trippy treat.
Purrs’ Front man and lead singer, Jima (pronounced Jim-A) does not possess the grand vocals that Richard Ashcroft did, but his singing style, while not quite in tune one hundred percent of the time, is chocked full of despair and endearing sincerity. It is this level of genuineness that is The Purr’s strongest asset. This debut, while devoid of the anthemic splendor of The Verve and Echo and The Bunnymen, is also free from the pretense that filled the liner notes of those two aforementioned bands. The apogee of this offering can be found in the mid-section and/or gut; Songs such as “Loose Talk”, “Ebb & Flow,” “Because I Want To” and “Taste of Monday” all sound like tracks from a scaled down, boozier Urban Hymns.
Jima has said that his band is intended to be a bar band, where his audience can have a few drinks, some laughs, and have an overall good time. That sentiment is exactly what is captured on this album. Sure, this LP is short on majesty, but light up that kind bud pinner, take down a few pints and chill, you will really dig the vibe, man…. |