Clean Up The Living Room
Self-Released, 2021
8/10
Listen to Clean Up The Living Room
The veteran rockers Porter Block return after a half decade hiatus from recorded music, and their sincere and exciting brand of pop sounds more relevant than ever as Clean Up The Living Room thematically surrounds topics like loneliness, empathy and understanding.
“Say Something Nice” starts the listen with firm keys and inviting vocals as warm guitar and precise drumming guide the mature pop climate, and “I Don’t Wanna Wait” follows with acrobatic keys and a busy landscape of soaring melodies that you won’t forget soon.
Halfway through, “Taking The Boat To Water” enters dreamy territory, where frontman Peter Block’s soulful pipes are complemented by the playful instrumentation, while “Angry” brings hooks and harmony to the sophisticated album highlight. “Mine To Control”, another exceptional tune, then recruits a more rock focused demeanor that bounces with timeless textures.
Landing near the end, the title track is a quick flash of atypical piano balladry, and “Get On The Bus” exits the listen with grit and melody meeting at a glorious intersection that you’ll want to revisit again.
Peter Block penned this album on piano (he’s also versed in guitar), before sending off the demos to his collaborator, Caleb Sherman, who tweaked the songs with his inimitable skills. Block then put some final touches on the effort, and it’s certainly one of the best in their deep catalog of power pop meets modern rock sensibilities.
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