In music there are a few of acts that can throw a lot of weird stuff together to make something that, when judged by the sum of its parts, should not work&mdash but does. Inexplicably, because of a strange finesse, a genuine enthusiasm, or perhaps dumb luck an artist or band can make something bizarre and wonderful. Adam Green's
Minor Love might fall under that category.
Adam Green is best known for being part of The Moldy Peaches and the male voice replaced by Michael Cera in "Juno". Green's certainly matured past lyrics about poop over major chords, but he's still just as kooky.
Minor Love as a whole sounds like if The Strokes were 50 year-olds. Adam Green's voice croons in a low baritone like a toasted lounge singer over instrumentals eclectic to the point of absurdity. As the album continues it sounds more and more like someone literally dared Green to make this album.
What's neat though, and almost inspiring about
Minor Love is how by the middle track "Stadium" Soul it reaches that comfortable level of pulp. Like Johnny Cash conjured images of cowboys and outlaws and demonized drug addicts, Green croons similarly, instead writing his songs about hyper-stylized New York dives and comic book backdrops. His songs are like a graphic novel, cartoony but with depth.
Minor Love is worth checking out though, if only because it's so delightfully silly. If you ever thought Noah and The Whale should make music for Cartoon Network, Adam Green will probably fill the niche. -
Ryan Broderick
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MP3:"Bathing Birds" - Couple of Tracks
Adam Green on Myspace