Paul Liberatore Reviews Plush Up — Marin IJ
Press Play: Marble Party in top form on sophomore CD
By Paul Liberatore, Marin Independent Journal
5/22/2014
Marble Party — "Plush Up"
There will be no sophomore jinx for Marble Party, a creative Marin quartet that follows its breakthrough 2012 debut with this indie rock gem, a genre-bending collection of 10 original songs that blends classic and modern rock with power pop and a nostalgic dose of psychedelia.
The title track sets the early tone — lighthearted vocals bouncing over old school pop-rock instrumental tracks. The band — guitarist-singer Eric Eisenberg, keyboardist Dan Barbee, bassist Greg Merriman and drummer Andy Trapp — shifts into a country groove on the steel-guitar infused "Stuck in the Middle," followed by the reggae-influenced "Peel Away." They channel Elvis Costello on the new wave-ish "About Her" and recall the Beatles and the early British invasion on "Song from the Coast."
Marble Party hits its stride and finds its voice on the album's final trio of songs: "Control," with its catchy keyboard hook and cautionary lyric; the breathy vocals and spacey guitar interludes that distinguish "That's the Way It Goes" and the call-and-response vocal arrangement and syncopated piano-man sound of "Prove Me Wrong," a catchy tune with the cheeky lyric, "My glass is full but it's upside down."
There is nothing upside down about Marble Party. With "Plush Up," on Mill Valley's Floating Records, it shows that this is a band in top form with nowhere to go but up.
Buy it: "Plush Up," Marble Party, Floating Records, $4.90 download www.floatingrecords.com, CD $9.99 CD Baby.
Hear them live: Album release party, 8 p.m. May 29, Sweetwater Music Hall, Mill Valley, $15 to $17 with free CD.
— Paul Liberatore
Absolute Powerpop Music Blog Reviews Plush Up
From absolutepowerpop.blogspot.com, June 27, 2014
Marble Party - Plush Up
Marble Party is a San Francisco band with a power pop sound that's both modern and retro. The driving lid-lifter "Afterglow" aligns them with the Weezers of the world, "About Her" channels Squeeze and the extraordinary "Song from the Coast" with its tinges of psychedelia recalls The Beatles by way of The Red Button. Never afraid to genre-hop, they turn to country rock to fine results on "Stuck in the Middle", complete with steel guitar, and close things out with the piano-based Jellyfish-esque "Prove Me Wrong". Showing a clever mastery of various power pop styles, Marble Party is one of my favorite finds of 2014 to date.
- Steve Ferra
"Best of the Year" Nod for Plush Up
Plush Up was selected from over 200 albums as one of Pop Geek Heaven’s “Best of the Year” releases of 2014. One of the tracks off Plush Up will appear on a compilation CD in time for the holidays.
Marble Party Featured on "Made in Mill Valley" Album Compilation
Marble Party's "Ann Said" (off Plush Up) was featured on the Floating Records compilation album “Made in Mill Valley,” which made it onto the Marin IJs “Best Marin CDs of 2014” list.