Music reviews. CD reviews. Critically hip!

Young California rookies Brown Shoe do a decent job on their sophomore album Vanity. Don’t expect any surfing bubblegum pop here. Although the band hails from the sunny coasts of CA, their sound is of another, better world. Instead, an almost polished British indie-rock is heard. Roaring guitar solos and thundering bass and drums make Vanity an enjoyable musical journey across a landscape painted with comforting imagery, outspoken youth and the trials of love and sex. With sounds like Coldplay and Radiohead meshed with Keane, Brown Shoe produces no shortage of dreamy, uplifting melodies.However, it sometimes seems there is too much poetry and not enough lyrics, which is not necessarily a complaint, but an unavoidable observation. Brown Shoe’s strength is in their music. Listeners may struggle in finding catchy choruses to sing along to, but will not completely be without affectionate, thoughtful lyrics that shine through to the heart. Holiday in Cape Town, The Ship, Désolé and Heavy Handed are the few instances in which lead singer Ryan Baggaley showcases his lyric and singing ability and passes the test, but not with flying colors. The band seems most at home in an entirely instrumental atmosphere. Ryan, Aaron and Bryson Baggaley along with drummer and friend Jim Mikesell compose this unique foursome of three brothers and a best friend. It is hard to pinpoint each member’s role as each contributes in more ways than one instrumentally, with all being able to play more than one instrument. Although Vanity is in no way perfect, it is a promising start for the young band. If Brown Shoe can somehow find a way to balance their music and lyrics, they just might receive an even bigger following and welcoming.