American Princes - Less And Less (2006) [mp3@320]

01. Stolen Blues [2:31]
02. Open Letter [4:13]
03. Simple Life [3:30]
04. Annie [2:08]
05. This is the Year [3:03]
06. Never Grow Old [5:15]
07. You and Them [2:57]
08. Baby Blue [2:40]
09. Copper for Sand [2:45]
10. Breaks [4:46]
11. TV Keeps Me Up [1:38]
12. Chaos Control [2:44]
13. You and Me [3:07]




http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Princes




American Princes' second CD Less and Less was, for me, almost a sexual experience. This indie rock band from Little Rock, Arkansas and their bluesy garage-rock sound is breathtaking in its intensity and emotional release. ItΓΓé¼Γäós like making love outside in the pouring rain. And youΓΓé¼Γäóll love every minute of it.

American Princes unique lyrical, vocal, and musical combinations create a sound that ranges from Kings of Leon to the Chili Peppers, Cream to Bowie. Less and Less is a triumph of talent and imagination. ItΓΓé¼Γäós raw but cultivated, passionate yet intelligent, retro and cutting-edge rock with provocative blues undercurrents. I loved this album but not without exception.

ΓΓé¼┼ôOpen LetterΓΓé¼┬¥ has a lot of drum and rhythm guitar. David SladeΓΓé¼Γäós unique vocals are gravelly, arousing and raw. ΓΓé¼┼ôAnnieΓΓé¼┬¥ mixes acoustic guitar and synthesized strings that, together with SladeΓΓé¼Γäós rough, bordering on hushed, vocals create a sweet, innocent, wild-flowers-picked-from-an-obliging-field, lost-love kind of a song.

ΓΓé¼┼ôNever Grow OldΓΓé¼┬¥ has the same throaty, carnal, vocals, emotive lyrics and ΓΓé¼ΓÇ¥ what you soon learn is an American Princes trademark ΓΓé¼ΓÇ¥ catchy riff. It will have you singing along before you even know all the words. ΓΓé¼┼ôYou & ThemΓΓé¼┬¥ is beautifully acoustic with reverently sung poignant lyrics.

ΓΓé¼┼ôBreaksΓΓé¼┬¥ sounds like a nod to Chris Isaak. Soft, melodic bass lines and pulsating beats drive SladeΓΓé¼Γäós intense, deep, sensual vocals to a wet, quivering, all but orgasmic brink.

It wasnΓΓé¼Γäót true love however. ΓΓé¼┼ôStolen BluesΓΓé¼┬¥ sounds like the Clash with soft bits and I never warmed to it. And ΓΓé¼┼ôTV Keeps Me UpΓΓé¼┬¥ is a skiffle nightmare that is out of place on what is otherwise an excellent album.

This album feels like sex on a CD. Less and Less is a sensual, sexual, throbbing, rock & roll/ blues classic. And I think I may be in love.