Review Summary: I wouldn't say starry cat is a good time-passer; it feels much longer than 18 minutes. No matter, there is no other album I would pass my time with.
It pains me to give this album any score but a 5/5. I mean, it sounds exactly like what falling in love for the first time does. Many people credit the sole man behind starry cat, Sam Ray, for writing music that is the sonic equivalence to heartbreak. However, starry cat is about as twee as it gets. Every track is short, catchy and punchy. At only 18 minutes, this album feels complete. Every song is well produced (for being recorded on tape players that is) and begs to be listened to again, despite your fears of getting a cavity from all of the sugar. Don't worry-- I've listened to this free bandcamp download over 100 times and have had no related dental problems to date. "possession (quiet)" pulls you into this small and sweet world of intermediate guitar lines, crashing cymbals turned down in the mix, and lovesick lyrics. If you listen to this album and two songs in decide its a one-trick-pony, you're doing it wrong. At least wait until "you're the reason i believe in ghosts" the best song on the album and one that utilizes the entire G major scale in its beautifully simple opening synth lead. I'm always tempted to turn off the album after the end of "bye", as not to ruin the perfect feeling it leaves me with. Ray's falsettos and songwriting talent shine through on "bye". After the first chorus, the album kicks back into itself in a much denser form, with overlapping vocal lines, vibraphone, and the same passionately-played acoustic guitar that has been swirling in your ears for the past 13 minutes or so. I wouldn't say starry cat is a good time-passer; again, it feels much longer. No matter, there is no other album I would pass my time with. "i think you're really beautiful" is overrated, but I'm not going to argue that its a fine (fine as in polished and artistic rather than mediocre) song. "starry cat" (the song) is also a perfect wrap-up to the previous eight. Sam somehow works in the noise-pop elements he's famous for into an acoustic album, and it turns out beautifully. If you want an alternative to "today's pop music" and are trendy enough to complain about the state of today's music (as I am), this is the perfect album for you.
