The Squires of the Subterrain “Just Pretend”
Saturday, November 5, 2005
Christopher Earl’s New York-based one man band Squires of the Subterrain is nothing if not properly named, offering a distinctly refined, almost stately form of indie pop that draws from Hunky Dory, early Queen, and the tongue-in cheek intellect of 10cc. New record Lemon Malarkey is solidly quirky, veering from piano-based love songs (”Love is Like the Sun”) to snarky social commentary (”Penthouse Playboy”) to “Danny Die,” which could have sequenced nicely on Guided by Voices’ Under the Bushes Under the Stars. Highlight “Just Pretend” (mp3) owes a large debt to “Oh! You Pretty Things.”
Buy Lemon Malarkey here.
The Squires of the Subterrain are vastly deeper than might appear upon first listening. There’s something almost sacred about Chris Earl’s singing, as though every thought he has is a secret shared with his own god. His devotion to and study of the various forms of pop music is evident to all, but particularly those of us who are his followers, who regard him as being something of an eccentric sadhu who manifests forms of divinity in his interpretations of glam and rockabilly. In a world of decay and moral capitulation, The Squires of the Subterrain maintain a regal bearing as “they” flit from era to era to era. Listen and find blessing raining down on you!