Rating: NNN
It’s rare enough for a band to have even one member who can write and sing perfect pop melodies, but when all five members get in on it, the results can be dangerous. Irving operate as a true collective, and while everyone writes and sings, the result is a cohesive collection of well-constructed gems that’s sure to see Irving get equal billing with bands they have previously opened for, like Franz Ferdinand and Broken Social Scene. Enlisting indie stalwart producer Phil Ek (Modest Mouse, the Shins) has given Death In The Garden a beautiful overall sound, but it seems Ek has also been able to bring their pop sensibilities to the fore much the same way he did with the Shins breakthrough, Chutes Too Narrow, back in 2003. Every song has a lovely flow, with a steady cadence and easy accessibility that no fan of poppy indie rock will want to do without.
