When looking at the I Am Kloot album, you might expect this to fall under the genre of screamo. The band’s name is three words, the art is simple, and the song titles imply that this is not a happy record. Fortunately, I Am Kloot’s self-titled release is a lush, beautifully arranged pop record that could easily go on your iPod between Keane, James, Elbow, and even The Beatles. Although the Mancunian band’s debut album Natural History was primarily an acoustic record, the band has left that behind by including electric guitars, pianos, French Horn, and much more. In fact, their sophomore effort shows the group acting more like a band, rather than frontman John Bramwell with some backing musicians. Bramwell writes songs about the darker side of life when he sings, “Do you dare take a breath, do you dream of a tragic death, you delicate flower?” on ”From Your Favourite Sky”. A standout track is “Cuckoo”, which is a dark, sinister song with distorted guitars and Bramwell’s soaring vocals. There are a few brighter tracks on the album, including the infectious “3 Feet Tall”, with a classic Britpop chorus and tons of cowbell. We all know of the mighty powers of the cowbell. Hearing more records with intelligently crafted melodies seems to show a new trend in alternative music. This album flows quite naturally, with sparse acoustic cuts that easily seep into the darker, dense tracks. You feel like Bramwell is speaking the truth about his life, or perhaps somebody else’s, but there is nothing forced or contrived about these songs. They have given us the perfect album for a dreary winter day. If I Am Kloot is any clue to the future direction of our beloved format, we are going to be in for a great ride.

I Am Kloot
Echo

1. Live – Two Evenings With I Am Kloot
2. I Am Kloot Announce US Dates
3. Natural History
4. 2
5. Gods And Monsters