Earlier this week I noticed a shift in the mood of New York City. Winter is finally behind us. Springtime has arrived. The sun is still out when the workday is done. Here to provide the soundtrack for the return of warmth and sunlight is Brooklyn’s The Cloud Room. It is undeniable that we are in the middle of an ’80s music revival with every new band rocking the synth. I am not going to hop on a soapbox to rant about the pathetic quality of a vast majority of such bands; rather this review is to focus on a band destined for greatness. The Cloud Room does rock the synth from time to time, but they also write catchy songs that are actually damn good. Frontman J and the rest of this quintet do look back to the ’80s just a touch, but unlike most of their competition they use these influences as inspiration rather than a crutch. The opening track and lead single “Hey Now Now” is quite possibly the most infectiously catchy tune of 2005. The ass-shaking pop gems keep on rolling through “Waterfall” and the sunny California-fueled “Blackout”. Bring on the handclaps! With “Devoured In Peace”, the group shows off their versatility by adding acoustic guitars and backing vocal loops for a lush track with a chorus that at times reminds me of Supergrass. “The Hunger” allows bass player Jon Petrow and keyboardist Benjamin Nugent to rock out a bit, providing a sultry backbone to this stellar track. The album ends with one of my personal favorites, “We Sleep In The Ocean”. You can’t help noticing the hints of Bowie in J’s voice, but damnit it sounds good. There is something slightly familiar about their music, but just enough to keep you interested in the album from start to finish. Intelligent, catchy and mighty good, this is the record we have been waiting for all year.

The Cloud Room
Gigantic Music

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