Hot Picks [FRIDAY]

You Won't Grow Out of It

Friday, January 26, 2007

We can't stop talking about The Awkward Stage and one listen makes it easy to see why. Shane Nelken's band combines luscious, catchy pop with the heartfelt balladry of an indie troubadour.

The cute-sounding-but-actually-kinda-mean title track from the band's first CD, "Heaven is For Easy Girls," is a perfect introduction to Nelken's songwriting. Its laid-back 1950s "I love my girl" vibe is quickly fractured by Nelken's caustic wit. Like most of their songs, this one is simultaneously relaxing and discomforting, like an easy chair you bought from the Salvation Army.

Maybe a bit of Nelken's day job creeps into his tunes? He does work as a cremationist after all. That's gotta have some effect on the way one's mind works. Whether we should use that info to explain away the cynicism evident in songs like "The Morons Are Winning" and "The Circus Ends in Tears" is another matter.

Whatever the case, Nelken's debut album is absolutely fabulous, joining the ranks of other Vancouver groups he once played with (including the New Pornographers and Sparrow) as one of the city's best listens.

Try out some tracks for free on the group's MySpace page or at New Music Canada.