The full-length debut from
Dear Nora,
We'll Have a Time, is 26 minutes of heartbreakingly charming indie pop that goes by much too fast. Recalling the straightforward innocent bliss of early
Of Montreal records,
Dear Nora employ a similar use of jangly guitars, gorgeous two-part harmonies, and singalong choruses. Mixing in a few autumnal ballads, such as "Early to Bed" and "Springtime Fall," lead vocalist and guitarist Katy Davidson augments her garage pop aesthetic with an elegance lost on most indie popsters. While this sensibility occasionally comes across as updated girl group music, this is a fully operational rock unit, as the sleepy-eyed instrumental "Number Twelve" will attest. Always hanging around the lo-fi end of the pool, production-wise, the band benefits endlessly from the upfront drums, chirpy guitar, and subdued vocals. Overall, a simply and beautifully made album that counts as one of the more consistently rewarding indie pop releases of 2001. ~ Matt Fink