After two EPs, both released in 2009, Seattle sextet Sweet Secrets saw their first full-length album hit the shelves of local record stores back in December. The 12-track deep Color Force is a collection of easy-to-digest indie pop tunes that often hint at an underlying, folky sensibility. Standout numbers include the understated, but stirring opener, “Air Travel”, and slow-burning foot-tapper “Pinhole Camera”, both of which have been getting spins on KEXP. The record is accessible, without being conventional – a testament to Sweet Secrets’ ability to craft songs that are at once appealing to the masses, while maintaining every bit of credibility they’ve accrued since their formation in 2008. Frontman Roger Lloyd’s voice anchors tracks like “Evidence of Good Times”, with Eleni Romano’s pristine backing vocals and Corrina MacFarlane’s subtle violin accenting a rich bed of instrumentation. The band markets themselves as the purveyors of music for smart, sexy individuals, and for the most part, this album delivers the goods. Sweet Secrets will be playing a benefit concert for Planned Parenthood at the Sunset Tavern this Sunday, along with former Deli band of the month, NoRey, and the Volcano Diary.
– Kate Shepherd