While
Gary Olson's self-titled collection of elegantly arranged indie pop songs is technically his first solo album, it wouldn't be quite right to call it a debut. Since 1995,
Olson has been releasing fantastic albums with
the Ladybug Transistor, an Elephant 6-affiliated band who looked to chamber pop influences as much as '60s jangle folk and psych. As new waves of independent bands emerged,
Olson stayed active as both a producer and a frequent collaborator with the groups he recorded. The decision to strike out solo after 25 years of making music might seem odd at first, but with these 11 songs,
Olson refines the lush indie sound he's been perfecting his entire career with a set of introspective and dreamy moods. Unlike the collaborative nature of
Ladybug Transistor,
Olson sounds like the sole narrator of these songs. As the album begins, the mild and wistful tune "The Navy Boats" sets the tone, with gentle chord progressions and intricate string arrangements placing the song somewhere between
the Blue Nile and early
Belle and Sebastian.
Olson's soft-spoken vocals and brief trumpet solo add to this distinction as the lyrics drift through muted scenes from the lives of various characters. The mood stays fairly consistent throughout the album, with multiple highlight tracks like "Some Advice" and "Giovanna Please" fitting into the same pleasantly mellow mood. When
Olson occasionally picks up the pace on tracks like the upbeat "Afternoon Into Evening," he maintains the same friendly introspection as on the more demure songs. Themes of travel, dreaming, and memory come up repeatedly, placing
Olson in the role of the solitary observer, wandering alone through various unfamiliar environments both emotional and geographic. Like much of his output, the production and arrangement quietly give these songs extra dimension and drive home the sentiments he's trying to communicate. More than just another strong album from an established indie vet,
Olson's solo debut feels like an exciting chapter added to what he's already shown us. ~ Fred Thomas