Perhapst - Perhapst

If you're the drummer of The Decemberists, there's only one way to keep up with Colin Meloy's ever increasing fame: release a solo album. And that's exactly what John Moen has done, recording his self-titled debut under the name Perhapst. With a little help from friends like Chris Funk (The Decemberists), Eric Louvre (The Dharma Bums), Jonathan Drews (Sunset Valley), and Moen himself handling vocals/guitar, Perhapst is turning out to be one of the year's best quirky pop albums. Keeping his tongue firmly in cheek for the entire ten tracks, Moen draws upon indie-pop and folk rock to craft his debut. A song like "Maryanne" is a perfect slice of summer pop, filled to the brim with twangs of country guitar. Although Perhapst is much simpler than anything The Decemberists have ever created, it's still has a very refreshing sound. Moen has a very sweet voice that is impossible not to fall in love with and his songs definitely follow suite. Other favorite tracks include the wistful "Blue Year," the acoustic gem "Cruel Whisk," and The Shins-esque "Caution." If you're still looking for that perfect summer album to sweep you away, Perhapst is definitely a strong contender to consider for the position.

DOWNLOAD: Perhapst - Perhapst [In Music We Trust]
Recommended Tracks: "Maryanne," "Blue Year," "Cruel Whisk," "Caution," "Harbour."