[Love is Chemicals will play Kilby Court on Nov. 26. See calendar, Nov. 26.]

Love is Chemicals is the terrible name of a decent band from San Francisco. Its members’ M.O., as stated in their press release, is to “…stake their musical claim in the pantheon of bright, tuneful west coast indie rock alongside such bands as Pavement, Built To Spill, Death Cab for Cutie, Beulah, and The Long Winters, with songs that pit wistful lyrics and starry-eyed melodies against dense layers of shimmering, clanging guitars.” Unfortunately, I don’t feel that they’ve achieved this, but at least I can tell they’re trying.

In Love is Chemicals new, self-titled CD, I can hear the influx of Yo La Tengo, The Smiths and almost every other indie rock band that makes me think of watching Adult Swim on cartoon network late at night for some reason. It’s bright and colorful and, frankly, safe.

But it has potential. And I feel like Love is Chemicals could be the change its members seek if they keep at it. Their debut is not without burgeoning excitement somewhere beneath the surface. “Misery Card,” for example, is a good mix of dissonance and melody, especially at the end, that I would describe as fun, despite the wonderfully depressing lyrical content.

However, that song is immediately followed by the Pixies-Morrisey-Pixies-sounding “Friends & Neighbors,” and I can’t help but feel that Love is Chemicals is just an album or two away from being a great band. You can certainly feel enthusiasm within the band’s music. It’s certainly heartfelt. But it would be nice if that enthusiasm sounded a little more original.
—Jordan Scrivner

jordan[at]saltshakermagazine.com