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Shapes and Sizes, Split Lips, Winning Hips, A Shiner

by Glenn Fullington
02/07/2008

Shapes and Sizes is simply fun to listen to, yet far from funnily simple.

The album Split Lips, Winning Hips, A Shiner is the group’s second full length and they clearly have found a formula that works. Stunning harmonies please my ears. And when they are thrown into sexy poppy riffs, they're even better. I had a hard time writing this because I just wanted to keep listening.

“Maybe upon further listening I can explain my fascination with this band better,” I thought. I don’t think I can, though. The vocals are beautiful and haunting. It’s refreshing to hear a band that meshes this well.

Caila Thompson-Hannant, who contributes her pipes to much of the album, is strikingly powerful in her delivery. Angst and confidence stretch from the lyrics with thunderous viking-ness on some songs, and other times her words float around the instruments gracefully.

After listening to "The Taste In My Mouth," a horn-backed ballad that ends in a crescendo of disarray, my ears asked for more. Of course I gave in.

Every song stretches to a new realm of sound, changing tempo, instruments, mood, everything; yet the signature of the band is watermarked on each track. There is an aura that emanates from their music, sometimes evocative, often soothing, always pleasing.

Give at least one listen to this band. It only took me one.