Review by Nevin Martell From CdNow
Boston bands never die. Buffalo Tom, Letters to Cleo, even Aerosmith -- they all keep truckin' despite label disputes, management problems and various personnel changes.
Gigolo Aunts are another perfect example of this phenomenon.
After spending years bouncing between labels, the Aunties have found a new home on Adam Duritz's (Counting Crows) boutique label, E Pluribus Unum. The Aunts' latest contribution to the pop-rock pantheon, Minor Chords and Major Themes, is their tightest set yet and displays fine-tuned melodicism and songwriting.
At the production helm is Boston music scene regular Mike Denneen (Aimee Mann, Jen Trynin, Letters to Cleo). His crisp take on the Gigolo Aunts' two guitars, bass, set of drums and lush harmonies is perfect for the quartet's lovin' spoonful of hooks and choruses.
"Everyone Can Fly" reeks of an all-night binge at a Chapel Hill recording studio with nothing but a head full of drunken optimism. Lead singer/rhythm guitarist Dave Gibbs (no relation to any of the Brothers Gibb) charms his way through the speakers, especially on the rhythmic staccato shuffle of "The Big Lie" and the rambunctious cheer of the opener "C'mon, C'mon."
Minor Chords and Major Themes fits into the record collection somewhere between the classic songwriting structures of the Beach Boys and the Byrds and the neo-pop guitar strumming of Nick Heyward and Sloan. Put this one on and turn it up for some irresistible guitar pop bliss.