The Lucksmiths can seemingly churn out great indie pop with all the effort of turning on their amps. Every record they have done has been textbook from the tender vocals, introspective but not soppy lyrics, easygoing blend of acoustic and electric guitars, to the subtle yet striking arrangements and simple production. If you are expecting the next line to say something like here's where the line ends, you will be disappointed. Their seventh release for indie pop stalwarts Matinee Recordings is as fine an artifact as they have yet produced. Title track "The Chapter in Your Life Entitled San Francisco" is a heart-broken ballad the likes of which
David Gedge wishes he could still produce, all jangling guitars and wistfulness; it is one of their best. "The Winter Proper and "Young and Dumb" don't fall too far behind. Their cover of
the Bee Gees' "I Started a Joke" is less effective because the original is so perfect -- there isn't really much to be done with it.
The Lucksmiths drain all the drama out, adding resignation in place of the
Gibb's majestic wail and while it works well enough, another original number would have worked even better. Still, this EP is another example of indie pop at its best proving once again that you just can't go wrong with the Lucksmiths.