The Paper Cranes

Unfamiliar Records has been on quite the tear lately, putting out excellent releases from the likes of Japandroids and the Clips. Now we have the second full-length from this Victoria, BC quintet hot on the heels of last year's Halcyon Days. The Cranes' peppy mix of rock'n'roll, with a healthy dose of R&B rhythms, is reminiscent of Spoon and latter-day Jam records, without sounding derivative. And while Chivalry's Dead takes a few tracks to really find its groove, the one-two punch of "Thorazine Shuffle" and "The Cavalier" are well worth the wait. This record lays the groundwork for Paper Cranes to make the transformation from indie curiosity to full-fledged pop phenomenon, a path fellow Victorians Hot Hot Heat travelled not too long ago. It's really just a question of where their muse takes them.