Friends since kindergarten and musical partners for nearly as long, Jessica Vohs and Miranda Zeiger initially came to the attention of the wider public in 2007 when their debut album — duly dubbed Willow Willow — was released and drew stellar reviews. Then living in San Francisco, they spent several years rocking the regional circuit before migrating to Los Angeles. What eventually transpired is Listening to Music, set for release on November 11, 2014 and destined to elevate Willow Willow’s profile to even higher altitudes.
Joined by lead guitarist Aaron Robinson, bassist Luke Top, drummer Paul Burkhart, and piano and keyboardist Matthew Lurie, Willow Willow promotes an insanely addictive breed of jangle pop. Densely packed with brisk and breezy songs, Listening To Music offers styles and expressions lodged in a similar lane as acts such as the Dentists, the Feelies, and Let’s Active.
The opening cut on the album, “Sweetest Boy, Loneliest Girl” sets the tone and color for the remainder of the fare. Cheery and catchy vocals, courtesy of Jessica and Miranda, chime in divine unity, while rapid-fire guitars ring to a caffeinated cadence. Other notable songs included on the album are “Breakdown,” “Hummingbird,” “Terribly Smart,” “My Little Cloud,” and the title track, but the whole collection flows nicely and encourages repeat plays.
A summer sunshine air, tinted with an almost hymn-like pitch is impressed upon the songs, which are also characterized by bobbing hooks and head-nodding rhythms. Shaking with energy and exuberance, Listening To Music makes you remember why you enjoy listening to music in the first place, and that itself should spur you into sampling these maddeningly melodic sounds.
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