Kansas City’s Vedera have garnered many comparisons to the Cranberries and Frente! (they specialize in female-fronted, ‘90s-inspired, guitar pop) but Stages boasts some dreamy moments more reminiscent of the Sundays. The amorously troubled “Goodbye My Love” would work well on a break-up mix adjacent to “Here’s Where The Story Ends.” Likewise, gossamer ballad “The Rain” could fit perfectly alongside the Sundays’ weepy version of “Wild Horses.” Still it’s the more driving and endearingly melodramatic numbers here like “Satisfy” and “Loving Ghosts” that work with eloquent lyrics and elegant musicianship to make for songs that are not at all afraid to step on the distortion pedal and rock out during the more impassioned moments. “Even I” builds on the kind of young, universal sentiment found in the tear-smeared pages of unlocked diaries; that that this song could perfectly soundtrack any of those post-adolescent television dramas is hardly a bad thing when you consider the breath of fresh air that is Kristen May’s voice.
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