Umbrellas is the band that Scott Windsor has created post-Lyndsay Diaries. Umbrellas cherish indie pop that isn’t “emo”, but has some of the same characteristics when emo bands go all soft and sappy. Windsor makes beautiful sounds on the lush and very rich “Boston White” that is terribly melodic and brings to mind the Manic Street Preachers after Richey’s disappearance. From there, the band opts for some electro-p,op hues on the Depeche Mode-meets-Savage Garden “Again & Again”. The dreamy quality to these songs is what makes the album shine and work perfectly, especially during the tender “Idle & Waiting”, as Windsor asks earnestly to play that chord one more time. Hell, even the cheesy, disco-centric “Angel or Demon” comes up smelling like roses. And the throwaway songs like “Thinking of You” are solid, recalling a cross between Baby Dayliner and the Cure in terms of sound. Umbrellas excel by wearing their melancholic hearts on their sleeves and creating very interesting backdrops, as is the case with “Dignified Exit Society”. “Ships” has that same sadness about it that is hard not to enjoy. Perfect for rainy, Sunday late afternoon solitary walks.
Umbrellas: Illuminaire
Umbrellas
The Militia Group
2006-07-25