Country : Canada / Canada Label : Bobo Integral Genres and styles : Dream Pop / Dream Pop / Psych-Rock / Shoegaze / Shoegaze Year : 2022 / 2022

Crystal Eyes – The Sweetness Restored

· by Stephan Boissonneault

It’s a been a rough one for those of us living on planet Earth, plagued by a lingering existential dread that bubbles deep in the pit of our cores—exacerbated by a pandemic that doesn’t want to hang up chokehold—so it’s important to revel in the little moments, one of those being all of the great new music we get to experience.

Some of that great new music comes from the Calgary-based dream pop-meets shoegaze project, Crystal Eyes, and their sophomore LP The Sweetness Restored. For all of the Leonard Cohen fans out there (and who isn’t?) yes, the title comes from one of his final songs “Leaving The Table.”

Though Crystal Eyes sounds nothing like the championed crème de la crème Canadian singer-songwriter, their music has the same playful spirit, although instead of darkened folk ballads, they trade it for bright halcyon psych-rock ala Alvvays or Beach House.

The album also has some notable talent with Scotty “Monty” Munroe of Preoccupations/Chad Van Gaalen, powerhouse vocalist Basia Bulat on backing vocals, and Eve Parker Finley on strings.

“Wishes,” the opening track, sounds like the intro of a John Hughes coming-of-age film, and that little guitar hook has so much staying power. “Like a Movie” also has a cinematic quality to it with its lush soundscapes of Hammond organ and reverb-soaked guitar.

Lead vocalist Erin Jenkins’ hazy voice is also quite alluring on The Sweetness Restored leading you into a trance of dance and starry-eyed reverie. “A Dream I Had” is another standout with its utilization of space-age theremin and succulent bass lines. It sounds like The Cure in all the right ways.

Crystal Eyes is a band that knows how to create an atmosphere—with The Sweetness Restored leaving you with a dumb fat smile on your face.

Latest 360 Content

New European Ensemble open the 12th edition of M / NM

New European Ensemble open the 12th edition of M / NM

Ric’key Pageot: Madonna’s pianist and his passion for Black classical music

Ric’key Pageot: Madonna’s pianist and his passion for Black classical music

ONJ | Tirolien with Strings Brings Down the House

ONJ | Tirolien with Strings Brings Down the House

Jean-Marc Vallée: Mixtape at The Centre PHI | Rediscover the Director Through His Passion for Music

Jean-Marc Vallée: Mixtape at The Centre PHI | Rediscover the Director Through His Passion for Music

Kelly-Marie Murphy and the ideas lostness in music

Kelly-Marie Murphy and the ideas lostness in music

Kerson Leong and the timeless violin

Kerson Leong and the timeless violin

Noé Preszow – De ton vivant

Noé Preszow – De ton vivant

Les Violons du Roy Play with Timelessness with Kerson Leong: Interview with Laurent Patenaude

Les Violons du Roy Play with Timelessness with Kerson Leong: Interview with Laurent Patenaude

M / NM | The multiple voices of Corie Rose Soumah

M / NM | The multiple voices of Corie Rose Soumah

DVTR – Né pour flâner

DVTR – Né pour flâner

APACALDA – Jealous

APACALDA – Jealous

Center PHI | Cymatiques III, Kohlenstoff Annual Evening, Music-Video Summit

Center PHI | Cymatiques III, Kohlenstoff Annual Evening, Music-Video Summit

About Kendrick’s Reproval at Super Bowl LIX

About Kendrick’s Reproval at Super Bowl LIX

Black History Month | Time to Celebrate for Naya Ali

Black History Month | Time to Celebrate for Naya Ali

IGLOOFEST | Continuation and End with Four Tet

IGLOOFEST | Continuation and End with Four Tet

Three historic days with Franghiz Ali Zadeh and the Molinari Quartet in Montreal

Three historic days with Franghiz Ali Zadeh and the Molinari Quartet in Montreal

TAVERNE TOUR I The Drin at Le Ministère

TAVERNE TOUR I The Drin at Le Ministère

PRO MUSICA | Sophia Shuya Liu, the next big thing in piano music from Montreal

PRO MUSICA | Sophia Shuya Liu, the next big thing in piano music from Montreal

TAVERNE TOUR I Bad bitch vibes and hyperpop madness at O Patro Vys

TAVERNE TOUR I Bad bitch vibes and hyperpop madness at O Patro Vys

TAVERNE TOUR I Motherhood is a cacophonus explosion of sounds

TAVERNE TOUR I Motherhood is a cacophonus explosion of sounds

TAVERNE TOUR I Gondola is starting to make waves

TAVERNE TOUR I Gondola is starting to make waves

M/NM | Il teatro rosso, a tribute to Montreal’s legendary Red Light era

M/NM | Il teatro rosso, a tribute to Montreal’s legendary Red Light era

Serving Ennio Morricone

Serving Ennio Morricone

Subscribe to our newsletter