Sometimes things just come together seamlessly, like on “Dial-a-Devotion” the track by bedroom pop-folkie Jonathan Crean. Yes, this kind of dreamy, depressing sound is the belle du jour of the pop world, but Crean’s melodies and production are enough to make this tune worthy of serious consideration.
To begin with, Crean’s singing reveals a musician whose hours of practice have undoubtedly paid off, and who, in many ways, has already surpassed many of his lo-fi indie heroes.
Then there’s the sound of the record. Clever and well-produced, Crean builds himself a wall of sound layered enough to reveal more with each new listen, yet one that showcases the tune’s best traits on its first listen.
Jonathan Crean is an interesting man. He sure knows what to do with a pop tune. I’d like to see him challenged to write the soundtrack to a psychedelic-cartoon series.
