The Special Pillow are a New Jersey based psych-pop group that resembles classic Elephant 6 bands like The Apples in Stereo and Olivia Tremor Control. “I love your smile” is a great example of the funky psychedelic goodness here. The next few tracks continue this wonderful exploration with lots of unusual instrumentation, including exotic guitars, ukuleles, mandolins, and mandocello. Dan Cuddy’s melodic acid trip is like kool-aid for your soul here with more hooks than a bait shop. “No more problems” gives us a lazy sliding melody and is perfectly laid back. It takes a sharp hard rock turn on the excellent “Your Dead City” which reminds me of The Apples in Stereo doing a Kiss song. The bouncy “Ghosts Are Real” has a Celtic feel to it, with the compelling chorus that sticks in your head like glue. “Universal Mother’s Day” is my favorite here, it reminds me of Love and Rockets mixed with Bacharach orchestral pop flourishes. It looses a bit of direction towards the end of the album, but it still maintains interest. Not as guitar intense as The Mother Hips, but much catchier melodies here. If you like psych pop, this is essential listening. Light up the incense!
Special Pillow Website | My Space | Itunes | CD Baby
Listen to “I Love Your Smile”
Listen to “Your Dead City”