The Boy Least Likely To - The Boy Least Likely To

On any given weekend, finding The Best Party Ever being played at any party I was at would be quite a pleasant surprise. The Boy Least Likely To's 2005 release The Best Party Ever gives us a quirky, upbeat, bubbly sound that sets a foot tappin' feel good mood for the listeners. The combination of more space age futuristic sounds intertwined with blues grass instrumentals creates a kind of country folk like indie rock.

Their use of the glockenspiel creates an obscure percussion that gives a signature sound to the band. In "Be Gentle With Me" and "I'm Glad I Hitched My Apple Wagon to Your Star" the chiming percussion, followed by the banjo and the way the vocals follow the rhythm perfectly make it pretty much impossible to stay still. Also, we shouldn't forget "Fur Soft as Fur", but instead of taking so much note of the banjo we are delightfully entertained more by the fiddle.

When listening to the album, it seemed to resemble Architecture in Helsinki initially due to the similar chiming percussion and the overlapping vocals. Then the mood of the music seemed more fitting towards Belle and Sebastian, or perhaps specifically the Beatles "Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da". A happy feel good sound, that physically moves you, but isn't necessarily music one would find themselves dancing to in a club.

The Boy Least Likely To has created an album that as a whole fits together rather perfectly. However, even though mood and the flow of the album works really well, a minor criticism might be to say that they should step outside of the safety zone a bit. Their songs are happy, fun, and put together nicely, but after a couple listens they start to sound a little similar. This band is clearly talented and is headed in a good direction. Next album though, hopefully they'll make some bolder moves. Perhaps some cowbell?