Nice and Blue

Nice and Blue’s Stuffy Sessions doesn’t have a nifty gimmick, or unique instrument tone you’ve never heard before. There’s no shocking reversal of roles for the bass part or drums to take over any of the songs, and no surprise horn blasts kicking in during a refrain. It’s fantastically shocking anyways. Stuffy Sessions is a blast of fun, earnest, and really well written indie pop music from start to finish. Unfortunately for us that finish arrives after only three songs. Hopefully there’s a lot more where this came from.
 
With Stuffy Sessions Nice and Blue declare themselves as expert purveyors of Indie Crooner Pop. The expression and delivery of the vocals in particular position the band at a massive step above normal singer songwriters. But it doesn’t end there: their confidence, craft, instrumentation, layering, and accessibility harken back to the chamber-pop heyday of the early 2000s (when crooners like Sondre Lerche, Andrew Bird, and Grizzly Bear were at peak momentum). But while those bands relied on gimmicks like string arrangements, choirs, whistling, and luxurious instrumentation, the three songs on Stuffy Sessions blend craft and earnestness with a punk-inspired bravado to appeal to a broad range of listeners.
 
These three songs comprise a superb demo, in the sense that they demonstrate the scope of talent at work while still only hinting at the true potential of the group. The opening song "Legs" boasts a two-bar melody -- not the kind of line one stumbles into, but which shows an intentionality and mastery rarely on display for songwriters at this stage of their careers. "My God" is a dynamic, uptempo banger that unleashes a pop-punk swagger, while "House Sitting" tugs at heartstrings with its delicate delivery and simple instrumentation.
 
Perhaps the biggest surprise from an EP this straightforward in its production and mixing is the sonic size it achieves through the performance. Every note feels well placed and in time, but nothing feels tight or stressed. Everything is on tempo without feeling rigid. The instruments have space to move around each other, but everything is allowed to ring to a natural conclusion. This fantastic little EP manages to capture a band in their natural state while also displaying the full breadth of their abilities. Not an easy task at all – Steve Albini would be proud. Stuffy Sessions impressive demonstrates the wonderful indie pop talent of this group. I can’t wait to hear what comes next.