BANDS:

Punk & Ska
80's New Wave/
Post-Punk/
College Bands
90's & Beyond
Virginia, North
Carolina, & DC

Pinkie: Sharon Fussy
[Planting Seeds]

Like Spandau Ballet filtered through REMs Out of Time, Pinkies debut LP is a blend of 80s synth-romanticism and modern chamber pop, and its quite nice, despite sounding like it was made on a computer (but who can afford real orchestras these days, anyway).  Alex Sharkey crafts eleven arpeggio-laced mini-epics (save a few interludes) that while cinematic in their scope retain an intimacy thats downright empathetic (Dido comes to mind).

But that hes so sensitive is not to suggest the singer is without edge.  A song like Just Pretend sits nicely alongside his more tender musings (Someone Ill Never Be), all of which are delivered in a distinctly low-key British hum that suggests Kevin Shields over Chris Martin, with the vocals becoming more or less a compliment to the music atmosphere over oomph.  Its not exactly his trump card, but its a good fit for the sound.

And the arrangements are tasteful, allowing for something moving rather than emotional.  In songs like Say After Me and Who Is It Now?, melodies and beats converge against a wash of violins to render Enya-like hypnotic qualities that turn songs into sonic safety nets, and when listening, you almost want to fall back.  Its sweeping, if not completely engulfing.

Despite little variation amongst the compositions, tracks like Just Pretend, with its brooding disco, and up-tempo numbers like Shelly Anne and Adelaine provide the necessary outlets.

This album can be purchased at Amazon

Pinkie Official Website

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