Son, Ambulance
Key
(Saddle Creek)

When I reviewed Oh, Holy Fools! and Euphemystic for this very site, I felt that Son, Ambulance was at a disadvantage by being on Saddle Creek. My reasoning was that the band would constantly be compared to their more famous and more established label mates, i.e. Bright Eyes, Cursive, the Faint, and Azure Ray. Now I'm beginning to re-think my position. Perhaps the comparisons pushed Son, Ambulance to work a little harder to establish their own unique voice. Because that is exactly what Joe Knapp (the man driving the Ambulance) and his assembled band of helpers have done on Key.

The first thing I noticed while listening to Key was how much the band filled out the sound of Knapp's fragile but powerful songs. On Euphemystic, the songs, while well-written and beutiful, sounded thin... almost hollow.... But these songs ring out loud, without compromising the fragility, insecurity, and frustration at the heart of Knapp's songwriting.

Nowhere is this more evident than on the amazing "Sex in C Minor," where Knapp's repetative piano line is turned into a piece of feverish hypnotism by the rhythym section that propels the song into the realm of paranoia and anticipation of sexual desire. It is the best song on the album, and as such, Knapp gives it a well deserved epilogue sung by the haunting Jenna Morrison.

Another of Key's standout tracks is "Case of You/Wrinkle, Wrinkle," the other of the album's epic tracks. It is also the song that comes closest to the '70s-AM Gold sound that so characterized Euphemystic, but it is much, much more mature. The album's closer, "Pleasure, Now" is also an excellent track. A fast paced and sunny piece of pop wonder. It's a celebration of all things suburban (good and bad) and a reason to give Son, Ambulance a listen. One of the finest pop songs I've heard in years. Give Son, Ambulance a listen - you just might find that they deserve a place right up there with the other, better known Saddle Creek bands.

-Dan


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