[splendid reviews]
 C O V E R R E V I E W
bookshelf adventures
The long-awaited debut from this Boston foursome is all about the infinite variations of jangly pop (with bossa nova tendencies) created by three vocalists and a range of influences that runs the gamut of twentieth-century musical styles and tastes. Indie popsters everywhere -- especially those with a penchant for emo and a record collection that might sport the odd Belle and Sebastian or Legendary Jim Ruiz Group release -- are going to want this one in their collections. While pressing all the right buttons for Kindercore aficionados, Jumprope manage to invoke such disparate sources as early Pretenders, the Housemartins, Heavenly, Jobim, Throwing Muses and the Beatles. The confident double-barrelled-vocal pop guitar jangle of "Memory", for instance, is rammed home with a coyly girlish chorus that wouldn't sound out of place on a Cardigans album. Titles like "Tortoise and the Hare", "Gingerbread" and "Kites Are Fun" are, like their pristine melodies, reminicsent of timeless, magical autumn afternoons spent with nothing but a well-worn book for company -- but there are plenty of upbeat cuts like "I Never Loved Your Mind" that keep Bookshelf Adventures from being another introspective snooze-o-rama. Oh, and there's a little snippet from "Batman" on the end of "Aunt Harriet" to satisfy the Pop Culture Reference quota. You will play this disc over and over again and love it like family.
 I N F O
Jumprope
Bookshelf Adventures
Reverse Curve
CD
hear it
Review by George Zahora


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