While seemingly downplayed in the press, singer/songwriters
Elliott Smith and
Ben Folds had a child in 2001. They named it
Slowreader and it was discovered that Texas rockers
the Impossibles were a relative, although no one could really see the resemblance in the newborn child.
Slowreader took the best elements of his fathers; from
Ben Folds the child received its voice, and boy could it sing. Crooning gently and delicately, its first album, which was self-titled, also displayed
Slowreader's ability to take a song and bring the sorrow and pain to the forefront of the tune. This is where the other father,
Elliott Smith, started to show his influence on the child.
Smith's ability to harmonize and create wondrous orchestration while simultaneously being a master at the simple, acoustically driven heartbreaking number is what he taught the child. All of these things combined to make for an 11-song album with splendid songs so akin to
Elliott Smith and
Ben Folds it's almost uncanny. From vocal intonations to musicianship, it's all there. Obviously recommended for fans of the aforementioned singer/songwriters, this duo made up of
Rory Phillips and
Gabe Hascall could really go places if they can show they're more than just second-rate, second-generation singers doing almost the exact same thing as the first generation of indie singer/songwriters (namely
Smith and
Folds). However, what's here is striking and raw, quite refreshing and no doubt odd to be appearing on a label like
Fueled by Ramen. ~ Kurt Morris
