What Laura Says make music that sounds like the internet on their self-titled album. Their songs don’t sound like a computer. There is nary a “bleep” or “bloop” to be heard. But the band embraces the access we now have to virtually any music imaginable, largely because of the internet.
The band makes music with the abandon that a precocious child shows with a chemistry set. “Here’s some indie rock, now let’s add a vial of the blues. Motown-style backing vocals, you say? Why the hell not?”
This mix-and-match philosophy makes their album, Thinks and Feels, an exciting listen. From the country twang of “Get Better Soon” to the R&B leanings of “Waves,” trying to predict what will come next is a snipe hunt.
What Laura Says’ album reminds me of the direction my music listening has taken over the years. I started with acoustic rock and pop (the base the band seems to start from) and quickly began devouring other genres. I know I’m not the only one that followed this pattern. In this way, the band unknowingly created a concept album about the modern music listener.
My favorite moment was “Dot Dot Dot,” a gorgeous acoustic ballad. The beauty of this track is arresting. It’s the band’s way of saying “Not only can we do it all, but we can put a lump in your throat while we’re doing it.”
This Tempe five piece is no slouch in front of a crowd, either. Its members (Danny Godbold, James Mulhern, Greg Muller, Mitch Freedom, and Jacob Woolsey) are great live performers, giving the band a reputation for consistently putting on great shows. Check out their links for upcoming show nights..
