Kelley Stoltz – Below the Branches (2006, Sub Pop Records)


Instead of having his own face grace the front or back cover of the CD case for Below the Branches, Kelley Stoltz lets the real star of this album have the honors. Hence we get his piano and keyboard, present from the very start of the album, with the stomp-along pleasure “Wave Goodbye,” to the very end.

It must be said that Stoltz is not the most unique of the big pool of singer-songwriters flooding the market lately. He’s not shy to incorporate familiar Beatles and Beach Boys melodies, and he channels more recent artists at times like on “Little Lords,” which could easily fit on any Devendra Banhart album. No insult there, though. Even on a Banhart album, it would have been a stand-out track.

The thing that makes Stoltz’s music work is a genuine sense of charm, especially on the mix tape-friendly “Ever Thought of Coming Back” where, with a sonic wink and a smile, he encourages Jesus to make an early return. Then there's the frequent and refreshing dips into psychedelica that we don't get enough from when it comes to the other solo artists out there.

So what do you say, isn’t it time you become a fan of Kelley Stoltz’s piano?

MP3: Kelley Stoltz - The Sun Comes Through