Shelf Life – Everyone Make Happy

Indie Optimism

Shelf Life is a new project from Scotty Leitch, who has most notably been involved with producing and drumming for bedroom pop star Alex G. Everyone Make Happy comes courtesy of Lefse Records, a label whose lineup includes artists such as Youth Lagoon, How to Dress Well, Neon Indian and A Sunny Day in Glasgow. Everyone Make Happy is an eclectic collection of songs; each bares a ’90s influence, yet the sonics never overlap to the point of monotony. Instead, each song is a fresh demonstration of Leitch’s talent for songwriting, with influences stretching beyond ’90s indie-rock to touch on aspects of folk and country.

There are times when Shelf Life is noisy, and Leitch’s harmonies are sonically similar to shoegaze artists such as Slowdive. Comparisons might be made to Alex G, as both are pop-based but also push formulas past their traditions. The strongest and most obvious influence on Leitch’s music is Built to Spill and early Modest Mouse, but the sound of Everyone Make Happy is more clear and composed than the chaos of Doug Martsch and Isaac Brock. “Avril” could draw comparison to the more stripped-down acoustic songs of early Modest Mouse, as both Leitch and Brock possess a similar twang. And while Leitch’s guitar playing and vocal delivery calls heavily on Martsh, it never sounds like a cheap imitation.

Throughout Everyone Make Happy‘s ten tracks, Leitch never disappoints, with closing track “Don’t Palpatize” being one of the album’s highlights. Everyone Make Happy is a wonderful debut, calling on some of the best moments from ’90s indie rock while allowing broader influences to seep through. The cover is also fitting, reflecting the optimism and true innocence the record evokes.