Another one of those “it-ain’t-power-pop-but-I-like-it” reviews: Named after a nearly vertical part of Mount Everest, The Hillary Step is a folk pop duo. It consists of Rob Schiffmann and Jon Rothstein, with a capable supporting cast. Their album, “Knee Deep in Giants” has some really gorgeous moments. The single “Olio” is a great song that rivals the best of Dan Fogelberg or Kenny Loggins. The albums opener, “Meanwhile” is another gem and a great example of the harmony filled greatness they possess. “The Only Thing” is a country-flavored pop tune that is also downright catchy, like classic Toad The Wet Sprocket. The production is slick, yet clean and lets the voices shine through perfectly. Occasionally, the songwriting is brilliant, telling compelling stories with great vocalizing like “Jackie” and “Midnight 1958.” You will find bits of classic Paul Simon mixed with lounge AOR-styled pop here as in “Coffee in Bed” with a vocal by Suzanne Morris. But some songs still border on the maudlin with Kenny G styled sax flourishes, like “Shine all your love.” However, the good easily outweight any bad here. The Hillary Step website has lots of great content too (Better than 95% of the artist with sites). Worth the trip, really.
The Hillary Step Website | My Space | CD Baby | itunes