The Paul Chastain and Ric Menck pictured inside the cover of Soft Sounds seem a far cry from the pair of long-haired mop-tops on the band’s 1994 major-label debut Teenage Symphonies to God. Rather, the Chastain and Menck of today look more like your third grade teachers than a power-pop duo with some eight albums to their names. However, Soft Sounds shows the subtle beauty and wondrous contemplation that comes with age. Through these mostly Chastain-led compositions, the pair brings meaning to the album’s title as gentle breezes of melodic and harmonic beauty float through the air like the soundtrack to a quiet fall afternoon. Soft Sounds might also be the most personal Velvet Crush album to date, with Chastain wearing his heart on his sleeve in quiet ruminations on loss, love, regret and resignation, all adding weight to the sonic wonderment within. If older truly is wiser, then Soft Sounds certainly provides the proof.

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