The Perfect Summer Album

Canadian indie rock band Current Swell just released their fifth studio album, Ulysses. The album has that classic “indie” feel, that’s comprised of a combination of rock, folk and basic singer/songwriter tones. The album is a calming, easy listen that’s great for a car ride or chilling outside on a summer day.

The album fits tightly into the rest of their discography. However, Ulysses does show the band rocking harder than in their previous efforts, especially in “Rollin.’” This is a group of talented musicians who know how to compose pleasurable songs. Specifically, don’t miss “Keys to the Kingdom,” which has a catchy rolling beat, and “Bad News,” which tells a story you want in on..

Ulysses clearly has some major ‘60s influences. It’s not that Current Swell have specifically drawn from one artist or another, but rather the songs just have that easy, feel-good quality. It’s the perfect kind of music for sitting in a field of grass and just being free. It’s a perfect summer listen.

It’s nice to hear a group so true to the music and musicianship. There is no electronic aspect, but rather a “what you see is what you hear” style. Scott Stanton manages to carry the group with his calming vocals as David Lang harmonizes lusciously to create that folky feel that Ulysses has in spades.

Overall, this is a sweet album that you need for the coming season. It’s a melodic and easy listen that will cause you to wrangle up four friends for a car ride with the windows down.