The Softies - Holiday In Rhode Island

Listening to The Softies has always felt like peeking into a diary, with no personal
detail spared. Lyrically the band documents a lovelorn heart in every manifestation, and hope is the bright silver lining adorning each
song. As the third Softies album, Holiday in Rhode Island [KLP119] presents a more accessible view to the humble honesty of their
emotive universe. When Holiday in Rhode Island was originally released in Sept. 2000, it had been three and a half years since The
Softies previous album Winter Pageant [KLP061]. In that time Jen and Rose's introspective musings are reborn, sparkling with renewed
vision, both musically and spiritually. The trademark harmonies between Jen Sbragia (All Girl Summer Fun Band) and Rose Melberg
(Tiger Trap, Gaze) simply shimmer, brighter than ever before, benefiting from strong yet simple arrangements and excellent production
(at a house on Galiano Island near Victoria, British Columbia) by Dave Carswell and John Collins. The beautiful surroundings and
supportive production crew inspired The Softies to extend their minimalist blueprint of two delicately jangling guitars and two crystalline
voices to include acoustic guitar embellishment on "Just a Day," "You and Only You;" piano and sparse drums on "Me and the Bees;" a
xylophone makes subtle appearances here and there. Holiday in Rhode Island is a stunning artistic accomplishment from these two
much heralded pop icons.