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Minipop - A New Hope Review

by Patrick Muldowney

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I'm not sure what A New Hope is when it comes to album titles. The choice should clearly be based more on personal preference than worldly ambition. While every song on this Minipop release is solidly structured, there is little to be found on this disc any more creative than releases 15 years ago from the likes of That Dog and Juliana Hatfield. In comparison though, Tricia Kanne lacks the gall to say anything above sweet nothings, which fails to breathe life into music that barely strays from standard tempo and tones.

If, in order for it to be beautiful, art must maintain its subtle feminine qualities, A New Hope will be this year's Sixpence None the Richer. I'm not even able to resist the draw of Kanne during the tracks that strike more emotional chords musically. "Generator" is the premiere selection on A New Hope. Each verse builds well; beginning with Kanne's vocals and Matthew Swanson's distorted guitar, while the rhythm section does a great job of dropping out and falling in until the chorus becomes the hardest hitting moment on the album. Even the hope created by "Generator" is a little false though, considering it was written by Jon Warren, merely a guest musician on the release.

Greater dynamics would be welcomed with Minipop's next effort. Maybe it's time to recruit JW to the team, or at least raid his catalogue. Here's an idea for the next title: Enclaves and Assertions.

Tracks added to iPod: like I do, generator, fingerprints


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Minipop - A New Hope
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