Starflyer 59

Item: Old
Author: Trae Cadenhead

Old

(2003)

Reviewed by Trae Cadenhead

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Label Tooth & Nail RecordsThe Phantom Tollbooth2003

alternative rock indie pop indie rock shoegaze

After seven full-lengths, six EPs, two 7"s, and a double-disc collection, it's pretty safe to say that in the realm of music, Jason Martin, lead singer/ guitarist/ songwriter for Starflyer 59, is a genius. If all of his previous work was not proof enough, Old should remove all doubt.

Old finds Martin with bassist Jeff Cloud and drummer Frank Lenz making the Starflyer 59 record that was always destined to be made. Granted, Starflyer has never made a bad album, but never before have they found themselves fitting into as comfortable of a musical groove as they do on Old. Those who found themselves bored with the slow, crooning sounds of Leave Here a Stranger need to jump back on the Starflyer 59 boat. Those who loved the experimental nature of Stranger will be hard-pressed not to dig this one even more.

Jason Martin doesn't necessarily use any particular trick in crafting these songs. He just knows how to write catchy songs that make a grand-sized imprint in your head. The songs are guitar-filled to be sure, but are as far as possible from what is typically found on the radio. The closest comparison within Starflyer's own music would be to the Fashion Focus album, but that's only if you took the best songs and made an album full of them.

"Underneath" sets the pace of the music with a guitar sound that shows up again and again throughout the entire album, like an old friend that comes to visit every day. Once the next songs "Major Awards" and "Loved Ones" sink their way into your ears, you'll be hooked. And we haven't even gotten to the very best songs yet. The upbeat highlight comes in the form of "New Wife, New Life". This song is then followed up with the slow, beautifully meaningful title cut "Old": "The look in your eyes/ You look twice your age/ You've been almost through forever/ Was this a training ground/ They all passed us by/ I wish they'd look at me before/ I'm the one who cried/ Or have you noticed that we're all getting old/ We're all getting old." The tone of this song underlies the whole album, though it lies deep below the surface.

This is the kind of CD that you can take and listen to anywhere. In your room, at the beach, in the car, in the office, it doesn't matter. This is music that calls out to be played wherever you are. And once you've heard Old, you won't be able to keep it from spinning.

4.5 tocks