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\u2014exacerbated by a pandemic that doesn’t want to hang up chokehold\u2014so it’s important to revel in the little moments, one of those being all of the great new music we get to experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/em>. 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.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n Though Crystal Eyes sounds nothing like the championed cr\u00e8me de la cr\u00e8me 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Lead vocalist Erin Jenkins’ hazy voice is also quite alluring on The Sweetness Restored<\/em> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Crystal Eyes is a band that knows how to create an atmosphere\u2014with The Sweetness Restored <\/em>leaving you with a dumb fat smile on your face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n