This is Me Smiling- This is Me Smiling

This Is Me Smiling
This Is Me Smiling ***
OneHaven/Columbia

There are times on This Is Me Smiling's self-titled debut that the band is so bundled up in their influences that the offering borders on a Ben Folds tribute record. However, these are just a few moments and the majority of the album is filled with piano based pop gems. The band hails from the suburbs of Chicago and consists of vocalist / guitarist Dan Dusznski, keyboardist / vocalist Sheldon Miller, bassist Matt Schuessler, and drummer Adam Kaltenhauser. Skillfully mixing aspects of Ben Folds and Fountains of Wayne, still TIMS churns a flavor all their own.

The album starts off with "Ephemera," a b-side at best that doesn't fit the overall cohesiveness, it really gets going with the rollicking "Feelin' the Time Pass By." The funky give and go is punctuated by Dusznski's amusing voice, think Cake with "melody." "Prettier" is somewhat meatier and benefits from an off kilter structure that will remind some of Joe Jackson. However, when stripped down on "Matter to Matter" the holes in the project become canyons.

"Mixin' Up Adjectives" is where it's at to quote Beck and all. The track is amped up on crunchy guitars, thrashing drums, and a pounding piano that is almost relentless in it's pop purity. The chorus is a brief reprieve that captures the best hook of the record. If the fellas in This Is Me Smiling can come up with their own treadmill-like video for this track I will no doubt be sick of them by summer, but for now excuse me while I hit repeat.

by Josh R. Perry

http://www.staticmultimedia.com/content/music/reviews/cd/review_1179162735