Pete Astor - Spilt Milk (Slumberland Records)

When I prepare to write reviews, I do research first. I read press releases and reviews to see what other writers are thinking. Sometimes I agree, other times I wonder if we have listened to the same record. The reviews for Spilt Milk have been surprisingly mixed. You see, I can’t help but think that Pete Astor’s musical pedigree (Loft, Weather Prophets) combined with the easy camaraderie he has with producer/multi-instrumentalist James Hoare (Veronica Falls, Ultimate Painting, Proper Ornaments) are what make this record a treat. It is unadorned but charming jangle pop with an obvious debt to the Velvet Underground, and really, what is wrong with that? Astor has a laid back voice with the same timbre as James Hoare, and the two blend together effortlessly. “Mr. Music” is a good example of this, while opening track “Really Something” is slightly reminiscent of The Go Betweens. In fact, the Gobees and many other bands of this vintage worship at the altar of Lou Reed. “Mr. Music” is a middle-aged music scenester’s lament that some of us can relate to, while the wistful “My Right Hand” is a bit more upbeat. Astor’s dry reflections and warmly inflected tones fit in well with James Hoare’s personal style, which is why this record works so well.

The gentle “Perfect Life” is almost an homage to Robert Forster and Grant McLennan, and is easily the prettiest song here. “The Getting There” dips a bit into the Yo La Tengo songbook, but remember these bands I reference here are all devotees of the Velvets. It is another wonderful if similarly paced song when compared to the other songs here. That may be my only complaint about Spilt Milk, because I dig this type of music and never grow tired of it when it’s this heartfelt. “Very Good Lock” describes how men are conditioned to keep it all inside. “Good Enough” is slow and reflective, while “There It Goes” employs pedal steel for a different feel. The songs on the back half of the album aren’t quite as memorable as the front half, but it all coheres into a warm, gentle record for fans of The Velvets in their quieter moments, as well as fans of the aforementioned artists.