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Feb 10, 2016 Issue # 56 - Best of 2015 - Father John Misty and Wolf Alice By Matt Conner

The latest branch at least somewhat rooted in the Broken Social Scene tree comes via vocalist Lisa Lobsinger's new project, Laser. The trio, which also features Paul Pfisterer and Martin Davis Kinack, surrounds Lobsinger's exquisite vocal with instrumentation both synthetic and real. The end result is satisfactory synth pop, even if one too many of Night Driver's seven songs feel dispirited.

"Disconnect" and "Bleed You" beat as the heart of Night Driver. Pfisterer's previous solo work can be characterized as straightforward pop/rock, and his guitar work on the former is especially pleasing against the synthetic canvas. "Bleed You" feels like the album's title, a stark nighttime drive scene from some Nicolas Winding Refn film.

Unfortunately, Night Driver's opening and closing tracks either fade together all too quickly or wade too far into an unpleasant '80s pool, such as "Maniacs," which sounds like Stars doing their best a-Ha impression. (www.instagram.com/lasertheband)

Author rating: 5/10