The Corner Laughers — Ultraviolet Garden

Ultraviolet Garden

Popover Corps

Scott Bryson (CHARTattack)

10/22/2009 3:23pm

The Corner Laughers suggest their music possesses a "smidgeon of twee," but it's more like a heavy-handed slap.

You probably shouldn't listen to Ultraviolet Garden if you're in a bad mood. It's so musically upbeat that your anger brought on by the realization that anyone could possibly be that happy will make you want to throw your stereo against the wall.

Lyrically, this sophomore record is amusingly disparaging. Highlights include "For The Sake Of The Cat" ("We only stay together for the sake of the cat") and "Dark Horse" ("I saved your last email/I couldn't bring myself to delete it").

There are a lot of handclaps on Ultraviolet Garden and also some cleverly employed banjo. On the whole, the San Francisco-based quartet are reminiscent of The Ditty Bops, The Bicycles, The Weekend (a more saccharine, less rockin' version) and Paper Moon.

The album's most noticeable flaw is its length. When you're dealing in sickly sweet pop, it's easy to overstay your welcome. Ultraviolet Garden might have been a more potent disc had it been limited to 10 songs instead of 13.

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