Ivory Teeth Golden Tusk – Monogold Ivory Teeth Golden Tusk – Monogold – Buy

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Released on January 18, 2011, Monogold’s The Softest Glow can best be described as a 45 minute psych pop thrill ride.  It’s immediately apparent with the trickling keys and thunderous bass drum found in the opening seconds of “Ivory Teeth Golden Tusk” that this is a far more mature band than the one who released Waves in 2007. With The Softest Glow, the Brooklyn band (@monogold) showcases their ability to craft well-structured quirky pop music, dipping their toes in the psych and folk realms flawlessly.

This album is really freaking great overall.  From start to finish, it’s extremely well balanced; a precise tiptoe between bass and treble, guitars and effects, and percussion and melody, which is generally only found with musicians far older than this crew.  Songs like “Wind Or Hymn” and “2′s or 4′s” are, to put it simply, infectious. They’re very dynamic tracks, yet I didn’t feel the need to wrap my head around what exactly was going on. They come across as simple, fun, and carefree; this is the sort of stuff I’ll be listening to all spring and summer.

“I Accidentally Conjured Up A Ghost”, arguably one of the best tracks on the album, hits you from left field.  As opposed to the previous and subsequent tracks, it’s acoustic instrumentation and absence of vocals shows diversity. It’s a necessary track that some may find as filler; essentially, it’s a rest stop during an exhilarated marathon that lasts only a few minutes.

Standout track, “Dead Sea Minerals”, showcases everything this band does best. Falsetto vocals, driving percussion, and a warped sonic landscape paint the picture found on the album cover. I’m somehow picturing a skeletal Conan O’Brien dancing around throwing neon paint everywhere.  It’s gorgeous psych pop best likened to that of Yeasayer or Panda Bear, with indie pop tones similar to Passion Pit.

The Softest Glow is not without fault.  In their exploration of a new style, many of the songs are dangerously similar. I also found myself far more impressed with their musicianship than in their lyrical aptitude.  The vocal effects that added to lead vocalist Keith Kelly’s voice, though flawless in execution, hid some real talent that I hope will be explored in future releases.

I’m obviously intrigued by Monogold and their spectacular album. It’s a beautiful snapshot of a growing band on their way to some glorious places. It’s consistent as can be, almost to a fault.  Nonetheless, The Softest Glow is a colorful collection of tracks that spans various sub-genres, held together by Kelly’s genuine vocals and best enjoyed on a spring day with a mojito.