Parade

Sable Young's lovely vocals and Andrew Pierce's hooky songs make Chalk & Numbers' modern update of classic girl group sounds a nice surprise. Too often when people try to re-create the era, they go for an authentic sound but forget to write songs anywhere near as compelling as the originals. Not the case on the duo's second EP, Parade, as the five tunes here are all memorable and sound great no matter what time period they came out of. Whether bopping along with a gum-snapping strut ("Boy," "Things You Do"), swaying in reverb-heavy melancholy ("In the Dark"), or displaying plenty of melodrama on big ballads like "So Much for the Bay" and the EP's best song, "Pretty Colors," the group always displays a firm grip on both dynamics and melodies. Pierce's arrangements are perfectly constructed, the production is clean but scuffed enough to give the sound a vintage tinge, and like any girl group singer worth her mascara, Young bleeds sincerity with her guileless vocals. It's a wonderful little record that deserves some attention from anyone with a soft spot for well-done girl group updates.