The May Fire, The List

The May Fire’s six-song EP, The List, rubbed me the wrong way initially, I’ll admit it. After a few more listens, though, I’m slowly warming to the band. It wasn’t the music that threw me off, really — The List is pretty much straight-ahead, indie-tinged rock with nicely-done guitar effects, understated keys, and some nice energy to it. Think Superdrag fronted by Kim Deal, and you’ll be nearing The May Fire territory. And really, that’s no bad place to find yourself.

The problem for me, unfortunately, is singer/guitarist Catty Tasso’s voice. It’s really weird, because I’m around people with accents all the damn time (including my French-Algerian mother-in-law), but for some reason the South American (Chilean, I’m told?) inflection to her singing just doesn’t fit with the music. It throws things off, emphasizing words that really don’t need the emphasis and skipping blithely past others. It makes some of the lyrics sound out-and-out comical, particularly on opening rock track “Burning Up” and the trippy, psych-pop-ish “Red Unicorn” (and the Donovan-gone-wrong lyrics for that track don’t do it any favors to begin with, I’m afraid).

Like I said, though, I’m warming. I can’t resist the hooky, power pop-on-speed riffs the band churns out, especially with title track “The List,” the murky, Jesus & Mary Chain-esque “Under The Wave,” or roaring/raging closer “Mother/Father,” which channels enough vitriol to make my headphones crackle. At best, The List is a sign of The May Fire’s promise, of possible greatness to come; standing on its own two feet, its uneven but good at points. A definite grower.