Woove staff writer Rosalie Wind reviews the fifth release from New Orleans based indie pop band Rotary Downs, Cracked Maps and Blue Reports.

Rotary Downs, a wholesome, indie pop band that unexpectedly hails from New Orleans, released their fifth album, Cracked Maps and Blue Reports this March.  Ranked second on NPR Music’s “Top 10 Great Unknown Artists of 2007” list, Rotary Downs have serious talent at bluesy and rocking guitar, mellowed vocals and an overall clean, melodious pop sound.  From Rookery Records, the sextet has lovingly assembled thirteen catchy, low-key tracks in their first album release since 2006.

Opener “Ragna Rok” introduces the album with a two minute staggering guitar solo by lead guitarist Chris Colombo, followed by lead vocalist James Marler’s dreamy, uninhibited voice similar to Stephen Malkmus (Pavement) and Mason Jennings.

In the lively, heartened track “Promised Land,” Marler harmonizes with occasional female vocalist Tif Lamson, who has a light, wispy voice that smoothly contributes to the album’s leisurely but sometimes explosive energy. Especially poppy, “Promised Land” precedes another sugary, catchy song when Lamson and Marler again share vocals in “Vampires/Werewolves”: “Light the candles/ Let’s drink until the whole night’s in shambles,” Marler sings after lush, elongated series of “oohs” and “aahs.”

Bassist Jason Rhein and percussionist Zach Smith do not go unnoticed, especially on the quiet, streamlined “The Open Coast” and the gritty, low “Bullet on a String.” Though the pair let the lead vocals and guitar shine and show off their skills, Rhein and Smith still create and maintain the steady, rolling beats.

“Montrez-Vous,” or “show yourself” in French, has driving guitar and snazzy percussion. Though it continues the refreshing energy of Cracked Maps and Blue Reports, “Montrez-Vous” sounds cheesy, especially when Lamson repeats “Montrez-Vous/ Whoo ooh hoo” again and again.

“Wild Pink in Super 8” features jaunty trumpet courtesy of Michael Girardot alongside Marler’s honeyed voice and brilliant, multi-layered guitar from Colombo. In the endearing “A Drink from the Clouds,” Marler sings: “Here’s my reward/ Here I’m reborn/ Drink from the Clouds.” “Black Ops,” a song with sharp guitar and synths, has more, even better “oohs” and “aahs,” sounds similar to “A Drink from the Clouds” in terms of general bouncy, indie pop. Additionally, “Tall Afar” pleasantly exemplifies the lighthearted, bubblegum traits of Rotary Downs.

Addicting, catchy melodies appear in “Random Digs,” implying that cutesy lyrics still do not have to make sense: “Suicide sandals/ Left his smoking candles in the pearly white overbite/ Clocking in the rebel/ Yeah!”

The least pleasing track, “Conniption,” falls short when Marler’s vocals sound unsharpened and grainy against startlingly intense guitar and drums. After a couple listens however, the tenacity and power may grow on the listener.

Cracked Maps and Blue Reports closes with “Indian Summer,” Marler singing: “So long, goodbye/ The ceiling is the sky.” An enjoyable finale, its highlight appears when the keyboard and guitar duel towards the end, unexpectedly closing the album in the last forty-five seconds with an interrupted: “Ooh/ Ooh/ Ooh.”

An indie band with an edgier synth-pop sound, Rotary Downs has sprightly but sensible vocals, with layered guitar, bass and other instrumentation and enough creativity to make an overall cohesive, fulfilling album. It has an unrushed, thoughtful quality that works wonders to the ear.

5/5