Review: Pale Young Gentlemen - Pale Young Gentlemen

Posted on 1 October 2007 | 1 Comment

I‘ve been to Madison, Wisconsin more than a few times and don’t think I’ve ever had a bad time. It is a fun Big Ten college town that also boasts a significant amount of culture and outdoor activities and perhaps those sunny experiences with the city at least somewhat colors my perception of the Madison-based indie outfit Pale Young Gentlemen as well. The band has a new self-titled album that is of a jovial brand of music which is one part theatrical indie rock and one part 19th century Eastern European folk music. It is a great album and would be even if I hated Madison.

At a time when so many indie bands seem to sound so similar, Pale Young Gentlemen dare to be a little different. The album incorporates the sounds of the Balkans as well as bouncing showtunes and ends up sounding something like the best Bulgarian-American bar band of all time. Guitars peek their heads out from behind the mini orchestrations from time to time, but this is by no means guitar rock. Instead, the music is driven by simple piano melodies, warm cello accompaniments, and the dramatic Brandon Flowers-esqe vocals of Mike Reisenauer. It is sophisticated and celebratory music that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

This self-titled debut from Pale Young Gentlemen was an unexpected and excellent surprise and I might just have to make a trip up to Madison and knock back a few drinks as the night unwinds in glorious sounds around them.

MP3 | Pale Young Gentlemen – Fraulein S/T
MP3 | Pale Young Gentlemen – Saturday Night S/T

Filed Under: Album Reviews, Folk, Indie Rock

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