If there is anyone with classic pop running through his veins it’s Seth Swirsky (The Red Button). With his sophomore release “Watercolor Day,” it’s a soothing journey into baroque pop stylings that recalls Brian Wilson, Burt Bacharach and Paul McCartney’s solo period. The title track oozes laid back sunshine with a touch of Beatley horns. Assisting Seth is another pop genius, Rick Gallego (Cloud Eleven) whose influence is unmistakable in tracks like “Fading Again” and “Four O’Clock Sun” where the slow flowing Beach Boy harmonies take over. A ton of highlights are on this fantastic album, from the Pet Sounds influenced “Summer In Her Hair” and “She’s Doing Fine” to the 10cc multi-themed magic of “Matchbook Cover.” Some songs are mere acoustic sketches (“Song For Heather”) or XTC-like nursery ryhmes (“Sand Dollar”) but each style fits the album’s overall tone. The rare misfire here is the aptly name “Big Mistake” which sounds too close to Monty Python’s “Lumberjack Song” to take seriously. The Bacharach styled songs “Stay” and the introspective “Twenty Minutes to Myself” both have a simple but satisfying theme. This is also the second disc I listened to this month with a Nilsson love letter track. The piano and lyric describes the childhood worship of this “musical Van Gogh” in “(I Never Knew You) Harry.” The orchestral touches are subtle and the melodies are superb throughout the album. Any way you look at it this disc is pure summer sweetness distilled and I am proud to list it in my year end top ten.
It's quite pretty at points, but I'm afraid the concept isn't original – listen to 'Watercolour Days' by Clouds from 1971, a far more serious song, and very different to Seth's, but it makes you wonder if this was his inspiration. Or was it just an accidental 'steal'?
If you enjoy music that’s cheerful, peaceful, and jubilant, then Seth Swirsky’s “Watercolor Day” is for you. You’ll be humming future classics “Summer in Her Hair”, “Fading Away” and “Matchbook Cover” after just one listen. The harmonies of the “She’s Doing Fine” and “4 O’clock Sun” are pure pop brilliance.
The lyrics are first rate. “Distracted” immaculately describes the everyday distractions we all experience. “(I Never Knew You) Harry” is a fabulous tribute to the underappreciated musical icon Harry Nilsson. “Stay” is a magnificent love song everyone can relate to.
A perfect combination of great melodies and sensitive lyrics make this album enjoyable to anyone that appreciates pop/rock music at its finest.
This album is superb on every level.
I think our second "anonymous" commenter misses the mark widely and I'd suggest he or she looks into this thing they have now called called Q-tips.
Seth's songs are indeed his own. He clearly loves The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Nillson and others, but maybe it's forgotten that those names were influenced by others too. You -could- say the Beatles "shamelessly ripped off" American R&B and Rock artists and as a matter of fact they admitted as such themselves… but to say that they didn't bring their own stamp to those songs is absurd. The same situation is here with Seth. His own stamp is absolutely obvious to anyone that knows this kind of music… Seth is influenced, yes… but music doesn't exist in a vacuum and no one reinvents the wheel in their own music including Gavin Guss, Chris von Sneidern, the Fire Apes.
Back to the album, it's filled with gorgeous melodies, harmonies, unexpected turms and chord progressions that are the real deal. If you like The Wondermints, Jellyfish, XTC, then you'll love this album.
Anyone who posts as anonymous should be ignored when the post is negative.
Put your money where your mouth is. I still might not agree with you, but at least I'd be willing to respect the fact that you backed it up with your identity.
I agree with Aaron, sounds personal to me.
To my ears this is another fantastic release along with his first and the outstanding Red Button cd from '07.
I respectfully disagree with you. "Watercolor Day" may wear those classic influences openly, but they are far from insipid. This sounds more like a personal attack on Seth than a valid critique.
Seth Swirsky is to be avoided completely – the man is a shameless rip-off artist, not even remotely worthy of the names you associate him with. The songs are insipid, his aping of true musicians cynical in the extreme. The power-pop likes of Gavin Guss, Chris von Sneidern, the Fire Apes, etc. do not deserve to be tarnished by putting this lame poseur on the same page with them.
Got my copy yesterday – this definitely rivals the quality of the Red Button CD! Early favs include I'm just saying (both versions), distacted, 4 oclock sun and fading again.