Gatsbys American Dream - Ribbons & Sugar

Flow. It is an often times an underestimated part of a good album. Ten of twelve individual tracks don’t necessarily combine to make a good album. It is all in how they are put together. But when it all comes together right, as it does on Ribbons & Sugar, it takes the singular songs to a new level. With a sound influenced heavily by the likes of Sunny Day Real Estate, Gatsbys American Dream creates an atmosphere of laid-back rock. At times a tad heavier than their influential fathers, the eleven tracks blend together seamlessly. The downfalls of the album are in its similarity to its peers. The lead singers voice doesn’t stray far from the singing whining of the emo culture we have come to know. The lyrics at times are bland, referring to “a father that was never there”, and the usual topical backwash. But tracks like “The Horse You Rode In On” and “A Manifesto Of Tangible Swine” keep the album a little unique, breaking the mold while maintaining the flow. A band worth keeping an eye and an ear on, Gatsbys American Dream comes out with a mainstream, yet creative album that is a work in it’s own, not just a group of songs. Give it a listen. Hopefully they will keep going and reach the level they are so close to on this release. [www.gatsbysamericandream.com]