Review: Jack Shriner Bares All on Dream Pop Odyssey ‘The Fluid Ounce’
Like a black widow spider wrapped in a warm, fluffy blanket, Jack Shriner’s The Fluid Ounce (out February 19, 2016) is a dreamy pop album with a deep, dark interior. The Seattle-based singer-songwriter draws inspiration from his career as a mental health therapist, giving his songs the same dark edge as fellow indie acts Death Cab for Cutie, The Shins, Elliott Smith, and the Decemberists.
“Smiling at the Coast” is a refined, vocal driven, indie-rock tune. With a bouncing bass line and punchy percussion it is easy to imagine yourself grinning at the ocean while listening. “Lee Side” takes on a folk rock feel. The song opens with a jazzy acoustic guitar and builds steadily with the addition of bass and drums and grungy electric guitar. The song easily could have made the Twilight Saga: New Moon soundtrack.
“Inward the Course” continues the folk rock vibe with the addition of some new eerie sounds. It takes on an almost Elton John-sounding chord progression, while “E. Minor” is a song that sounds like it was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. With an upbeat tempo and a catchy bell riff, it is a deceptively cheerful song about someone who experienced childhood abuse.
Later in the record, “No Hard Lines” brings us off-rhythm vocals and harmonies set to a slow tempo, subtle bass, determined acoustic guitar, and even some strings thrown in. “Ways and Means” quickly turns experimental and Tame Impala like. The melody and structure of the song are similar to the style of the Decemberists’ Hazards of Love album. The sound of “January Dream” can be compared to Vampire Weekend and Broken Bells, and is my personal favorite song off the album. I hope to hear more of this beach-pop sound Shriner executes so well on future endeavors.
The rest of the album continues around twists and turns of folk rock, dream pop and indie rock, with each song flowing seamlessly into the next while keeping the listener on their figurative toes. While it takes on an urban feel, the album is an excellent soundtrack for your next trip over to Forks, Washington.
(The Fluid Ounce will be available for purchase via Jack Shriner’s Bandcamp page when it’s released on February 19th. You can stream the single “E. Minor” below.)
