saturday looks good to me

all your summer songs

'By creating something retro, a piece of art, by definition, cannot be edgy. Therefore, is it immediately doomed to be dull?

This is a question that "Saturday Looks Good to Me" wrestles with throughout the entire play of "All Your Summer Songs."

Featuring a gross ensemble of players, including the Pharmacists' better half Ted Leo, among others, Saturday has a deep well of resources from which to draw. They draw a good deal of the well's content in an attempt to diversify the album's sound. One of the negative side effects was the creation of disunity in production. The opening and untitled track is instrumentally all over the place and is too loose and ominous for an introductory piece.

Fortunately, Fred Thomas, Saturday's mastermind, pulls the songs up by the bootstraps for most of the remaining pieces and by the intro to the eighth track, "No Good With Sonnets," your interest is piqued.

By that point, upon first listen, the realization comes that the formula for all of these songs is lifted directly off oldies stations and AM radio. It's music for your parents to reminisce to and, in that context, it does a good job. There are no deep meanings or angst-driven melodies. On the contrary, if the album pictures prove to be a good sampling of all musicians involved, this is pretty music by pretty people. From this perspective, the songs are neither edgy nor dull. Bright would be the most accurate adjective. These songs are light in spirit and easy on the ears, a quality selection for summer days and open-windowed long drives.