KaiserCartel – Rock Island EP

KaiserCartel – Rock IslandEP

When I saw KaiserCartel at the Cedar Cultural Center (Minneapolis, MN) back in May, I had this thought:  “ADORABLE.”  And yet, I did not upchuck, nor did I silently weep in my lonely chamber of loneliness.  Sure, Ben and Courtney are attractive, fashionable and talented, but it’s really hard to hate on the duo since both are probably nice too (also significant:  Kate pointed out that Cartel looks like a young, dark-haired Gerard Depardieu.  Le rawr).  More importantly, their music reveals a shade of melancholy that dissuades sensible abandonment (twee) and total hipster bastardization (boney, unwashed bodies).  Le whew.

If you read my review of their Minneapolis show, you may remember that I called the band “tame for children and the elderly” and “old-timey.”  I stick by these descriptions.  Kaiser never adopts the affected air that so many female musicians forcefully voice; instead, she allows her pretty pipes to remain, well, pretty.  This attention to classic detail makes Rock Island enjoyable, even if it breaks no new ground.  Recorded live during a Daytrotter session, the five-track EP contains three new songs plus a polished version of “Shira” (the cozy show-closer/audience pleaser) and a cover of “Something about What Happens When We Talk.”  One noticeable trend is a slight move away from the folk pop sound of March Forth, and a minor shuffle towards the confusing terrain that is “alt-country.”  Perhaps the Lucinda Williams cover makes ears biased.  Truthfully, I’m not opposed to a little twang, and Kaiser’s milky vocals still channel the loveliness of folk, with diminutive alterations (like a cup of tea with a single drop of malt whiskey).

Rock Island will be available digitally Sept. 1 (with a limited number of hard copies offered at shows and via their website).  September also marks the start of a West Coast tour; the band will continue touring through October, reaching the Midwest and Southeast.  Visit http://www.kaisercartel.com/ for more info and tour dates.  Additionally worth noting, “Favorite Song” will be featured in the premiere episode of “Bored to Death,” a new HBO series that looks mocking, nerdy, and mildly insulting (life’s necessary ingredients).  Check it out.