Sam Cohen successfully emerges from the unwieldy shadow of Apollo Sunshine, the psych-rock band on indefinite hiatus that he helmed, with an ambitious solo project christened Yellowbirds. True to his roots, Cohen writes psych-pop inflected with some country accents on Yellowbirds’ debut album, “The Color” – Deli CD of the Month in April 2011. The entrancing songs conjure up the warmest musical tones that recall the freewheeling spirit of the ‘60s. The complexities and layers of the songs make for an enjoyable, challenging listen, but the tracks are incredibly accessible pop songs. While there is almost chaos in some songs with the butting guitars and bristling autoharp, the stridency is counterbalanced with calming acoustic guitar strums and Cohen’s Roy Orbison-esque vocals. These songs are all set to striking stop-motion music videos made of Cohen’s own collages. – Read Nancy Chow’s interview with Sam Cohen here.
