Heart Palpitations of the Rich and Famous

Album Review

Singer Gregg Yeti sounds as if he's been raised on warm California pop judging by the great number "Half on the Way" placed midway through Heart Palpitations of the Rich & Famous. The album also has a wide, expansive feel thanks to Yeti's delivery on several songs, especially the warm and almost epic-like "Colonize Your Eyes," a tune that is a distant cousin of Dream Academy's "Life in a Northern Town." The album opens with a large, grand pop song entitled "Deal with You Perfect," which has a choir and a rather muddy bassline throughout, resembling a lightweight version of Polyphonic Spree. However, the ensuing "Body Like a Fever" hits the ground running, resulting in a great roots rocker that Yeti effortlessly delivers. What one senses is that the performer is never going to let that proverbial ball drop, making for a consistent, stellar record from start to finish. One of the lone real rockers here is the punchy and tight "Adventures in Bad T-Shirts." Meanwhile, he settles the record down somewhat on the catchy midtempo "Laughter Be Your Slave" and the delectable "The Erase Her Eraser," which could be the perfect Americana answer to a pop nugget by the New Pornographers. Perhaps the song that personifies the album best is "My Narcoleptic Sara," a gorgeous roots pop nugget that could probably hold its own against the likes of Arcade Fire. On the whole, it's a tremendously grin-inducing album.