Album Review - The Spring Standards

The album, yellow//gold, by The Spring Standards is a double LP. James Cleare, Heather Robb and James Smith provide vocals and harmonies. “Yellow” is the first of the two sections, providing a soft, laid-back feeling. The song “Only Skin” is one with piano and vocals by Robb. “Heavy Home” continues the feeling by including drums and guitar. Lead vocals were provided by Cleare. Piano is brought in once again for the song “Chicago”. Besides the piano and guitar, a trumpet, glockenspiel and woodwind are played, giving it a ’60 or ’70s feeling. In “Crushing Pennies”, the guitar is the main instrument used with the piano being played once.

Continuing with the section yellow, the piano, drums and harmonica are used in the song “Enemies”. The pace of the song is reminiscent to that of a waltz. “Wildfire Forest” picks up a little bit from the previous songs while keeping the laid-back feeling. The guitar, piano, harmonica and drums are once again used. “So Simple So True” slows down to a steady beat by the piano, guitar and drums. The lyrics are also slow and sung in a soft tone.

“Nightmare” kicks off the gold section with a bit of hand-clapping and a chant of “no”. The piano and drums have a continuous beat while Robb, Cleare and Smith sing in distorted voices at times. “Watch the Moon Disappear” picks up a little bit more from “Nightmare”, this time with a sense of urgency. The lyrics hit higher notes while carrying the rushing feeling. “Rusty Wheels” starts with the drum in the background before getting louder. Unlike the first two, this one is a slowed-down rock song with their being some parts where it does get faster and the guitar hits the higher notes.

“Here We Go”, sung by Smith, starts with the guitar and the drums hitting two beats before a pause and then another two beats. The guitar and drums may remind you of the opening to .38 Special’s “Hold On Loosely” as it did for me. The tempo in the chorus picks up before slowing back down for the bridge. To finish off the album is the longest song “Unmarked Pill”, running for seven minutes and 37 seconds. For the first minute, it is slow before picking up for about thirty seconds and slowing back down. The pace for this song is mostly slowed down while having a few parts where the beat does pick up. Robb and Cleare have solos in singing this song and the guitar being the lead instrument for a moment or two.