Scary Mansion: Every Joke Is Half a Truth

Label: Zum

Scary Mansion’s lead singer, Leah Hayes, has a touch of Jenny Lewis to her vocals; her R’s and sibilants curve in the same Midwestern way. No doubt, there is an element of Rilo Kiley alt-country on this album, albeit with many more loping, thumping drumbeats and quite a few more bucolic minor chords. Track nine “Yer Mom” is the perfect example, sunny fields are hidden beneath cumulo-nimbus piano shadows that typically break at just the right moment to let shafts of sunlight through. The production is rather spacious and hollow, the resonance captured in the piano and the icy shimmer of the cymbals were surely difficult timbres to get but absolutely necessary for the style of the band. Otherwise, some of the cry-into-your-pillow songs would have (criminally) come out flat as a board. Another testament to the production and songwriting is the very first song “Captain”, an oddity on the album but a tremendously catchy, skittering and growly throwback to Isn’t Anything era My Bloody Valentine. Give it a few spins; the album is immediately attractive and continues to crack open even more upon each listen. (Andrew)