Paulson - All At Once

Give Paulson two listens. As one small part of a constant deluge of new music from friends, the Internet, radio and a swath of other sources, sometimes one shot is all a band has with a new listener. And that can be a shame, especially noting that some of the greatest music doesn’t always hit you over the head right away. I won’t put Paulson in the league of “greatest music,” but they are worth a little more attention. My first listen to All at Once left me rather unimpressed, although not completely turned off. But I gave it another try. Paulson has an earnest sincerity that grows on you. Lead vocalist Logan LaFlotte’s singing and lyricism grow on you as well. As I fostered appreciation for these factors, the music started to take on more of a shine. This is not in-your-face music. The themes are fairly simple, and the music is catchy in a pleasant, understated fashion. But the product rings true. Paulson list a solid mix of influences and current favorites on the ubiquitous Myspace profile page, which is always a comforting sign that a band has good musical intentions (Excluding those instances of name-dropping and the conjuring of legitimacy). Their own brand of sound is middle of the road indie rock that sports some effectively underused synth sounds and an undemanding sing-along quality - it asks you politely to join in. Paulson's All At Once: Reflective, simple and sincere. And worth another listen. [www.paulsonisaband.com]