Kelley Stoltz
To Dreamers
Release Date: Oct 12, 2010
Genre(s): Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
Record label: Sub Pop
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Album Review: To Dreamers by Kelley Stoltz
Very Good, Based on 2 Critics
Based on rating 7/10
Kelley Stoltz is in a ‘60s state of mind on his fourth Sub Pop record. Like his past albums, To Dreamers mixes endearing retro-pop pastiche with homemade production, a move that pays homage to Stoltz’s influences -- Ray Davies, Brian Wilson, Gene Clark, and other heavyweights from yesteryear -- without directly aping their sound. The guitar riffs are appropriately fuzzy but a tad messy; the harmonies are well-placed but imperfect.
Based on rating 6.8/10
Kelley Stoltz does a mean Brian Wilson, a half-decent Roger McGuinn, a spot-on Marc Bolan. He's got a Tom Petty, a Nick Drake, and a David Bowie that wouldn't get him kicked out of Vegas. Throughout Stoltz's decade-plus career, one name that hasn't always found its way into the discussion is his own; too often bedraggled by their influences, his songs-- never less than competent juxtapositions of glam, folk-rock, orchestral pop, and hints of proto-psych-- can feel like the work of a gifted stylist searching for a style to call his own.
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