These Stars Are for You

Album Review

Yes, pop bands still sprout like dandelions in Winston-Salem, NC, and the debut EP from the Saving Graces demonstrates that the current crop is sounding nearly as good as the hardy perennials from the past. Led by former Neidermeyer frontman Michael Slawter, the Saving Graces are able to shift gears from the sophisticated grace of "Song for Anyone Else" to the lean, spunky energy of "The Things That Make You Strange" without stalling out or putting too much strain on the clutch, while Slawter's estimable guitar and vocal abilities get a first-class assist from bassist Drew Jenkins and drummer John Holoman. The production (by Slawter with D. Henry Fenton and Britt Uzzell) is polished and savvy but still reveals a keen edge, documenting a band with both hooky smarts and a rock & roll heart. These Stars Are for You is a promising calling card for the Saving Graces, and hopefully they have enough where this came from for a full-length release sometime soon.