Saturday Looks Good To Me

Fill Up The Room

[4/5]


Three years after their last proper release-the retro-poptastic Every Night-Saturday Looks Good To Me return with perhaps their best record to date, and first for new label K. Led by songwriter/producer/guitarist/lead vocalist Fred Thomas, Fill Up The Room is all over the place, from doo-wop to dance to drum circles, all the while maintaining a cohesive, undeniably pop sound. The band weave in full string arrangements and harpsichords, which add rich warmth to their sound. Even when Betty Marie Barnes steps to the mic to sing “I want you to know when you swallow your words I won’t be there” on “Hands In The Snow,” it’s still delivered in typical SLGTM fashion, sounding incredibly sweet rather than vengeful. There’s a great whimsical, quirky feel throughout Fill Up The Room that’s very comforting, even on the first listen. (K) Kira Wisniewski