The Clientele — God Save The Clientele

I have a friend who's agreeable to anything that's going on; the ass just shrugs his shoulders, grinning like he knows something the rest of us don't. I get the same kind of ease from The Clientele, a que sera sera sort of shuck. And I like it. The band's languid AM pop sound is intact and they've built on the things that made 2005's Strange Geometry so appealing. An abundance of lush guitars, brushed drums and Alasdair Maclean's breathy delivery make for a record that sounds impossibly effortless. Even when the band add a vaguely disco-like flare to the nerd dream come to life, "Bookshop Casanova," they're restrained in their exuberance. It seems impossible to rattle these guys. The record is full of little gems, and its appeal grows with every listen.