Album Notes

With the full-length debut album, New Ghost Lights, Portland-based pop rockers The Crosswalks have honed their knack for catchy melodies, experimental time splits and intricate, eccentric wordplay into a masterful collection of tracks that hurtle from the speakers with forceful subtlety. The three-piece band has crafted an album full of surprises, from the deadpan contradictions of the opening track,
"Ghostwriter" to the thoughtful, seriocomedic meditations of "Find Time for Wind Time" and the bounding slap of "Voices." There's definitely a different feel from track to track--not only because guitarist Brendan McCracken, drummer Dave Shur and bassist Emily Vidal share the vocal duties, but also due to the fact that each song stands strongly on its own musical merit. The swinging beats of one track match perfectly with the bizarre keys on the next, all meshed with truly unique harmonies that would sound equally appropriate for a concert choir or The Muppet Show. The tight intricacies of The Crosswalks' studio work (and their impressive backlog of material) translates into a vivacious live show, which has garnered a passionate local following. The Crosswalks are a bit of a rarity among the tight pants and melancholy of popular indie music--they're fun to listen to, and they always keep fans guessing.