The Olive Group - Blue - Post Parlo

Review by: Jennifer Perkins

Jazzy pop, that is what every review of this band has described Austin's The Olive Group as, and I am not going to be the one that breaks tradition. All those qualities you like about the Sea and Cake (a regular point of reference for this band) you will like about The Olive Group. This CD is so upbeat and catchy, everything any good pop aficionado like myself enjoys.

A prime example, "Cat and Mouse" is one of those songs you could really put on repeat and it has definitely been making the rounds of mixed tapes I have been creating as of late. Jazzy drum beats, tap tap tap on the high hat, and a twangy hook played on a hollow bodied guitar that won't escape your mind soon. The band used to practice by my house so I went to sleep many of nights to sweet dreams with this song as the soundtrack.

All the songs are good in their individual way. Not all are upbeat and perky, some like "The night is so heavy" is actually rather slow and sentimental. The Olive Group have many sides to them. Before you can get too depressed though the CD gets chipper all over again with the sunshiney "Seem to say".

This is yet another band I am surprised more people are not creaming their jeans over. Why isn't this on Indiepopradio.com every time I tune in? The listeners would dig this chili and then some. Each song breaks up in the middle to digress off the point for a little bit, just to come back to where it began and bring the song full circle. The Olive Group are a band to be reckoned with and people might be looking to Austin and Post Parlo records rather than Thrill Jockey and Chicago in no time for that fine pop/jazz blend all the indie kids crave.

Read where The Olive Group got their name from here.

Read a review of The Olive Group / Those Peabodys split 7" here.

See The Olive Group featured in Panty Toss here.