Real Blasty, the sophomore full-length release from Chicago-born Kyle Andrews, is an upbeat album for sad people who just want to dance. A lesser artist could get weighed down by the broody lyrics covering unrequited love, insecurities and general enui. But Andrews pulls it off by pairing his angst with bright electro-pop rhythms and irresistible hooks.
Though he's spent much of his time living in Nashville, Tenn. and partially recorded Real Blasty there, Andrews' style is a far cry from the city's usual country music output. Instead, Real Blasty feels as if it was made for urban nightclubs. The programmed beats and keyboards on "Sushi" open the album, followed by the groovy synths on "Naked in New York" and dance rhythms of "Blow It Out."
"Call and Fade" is one of the few songs on Real Blasty that brings down the energy levels. It's also one of the highlights, exchanging dance beats for mournful cello and especially heartbreaking lyrics. "Don't tell me you need me, it's not that easy / Yeah we try to forgive, yeah we try / I'm only a moment, you're always what could have been," Andrews croons. Many will find it easy to relate to the naked honesty in the words, even if they sometimes verge on melodrama.
Real Blasty will be properly released in January through Andrews' own Elephant Lady Records, but is also currently available as a pay-what-you-want download on his MySpace page.
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