Elizabeth & the Catapult: Taller Children

Elizabeth & the Catapult

Taller Children

Verve Forecast

Aug 17, 2009 Web Exclusive By Laura Leebove

From the start of Elizabeth & the Catapult's debut LP, Taller Children, frontwoman Elizabeth Ziman makes a strong impression with two charming, straightforward pop tracks carrying the message that adults just don't want to—or can't—grow up. In "Momma's Boy," she taunts, "Don't expect the world to clean up for you, 'cause they don't have to," and in the playful title track she sings, "In the end we're all just taller children." The theme doesn't stick so well throughout the rest of the record and, unfortunately, neither does the strength of her songs.

Nothing on Taller Children is groundbreaking, but Ziman's best moments come through early on when she flaunts her own flavor instead of borrowing a mess of vocal styles from already-established heavy hitters such as Regina Spektor and Neko Case. With the 12 tracks carelessly jumping from bubbly pop ("Hit The Wall") to woebegone jazz ("Rainiest Day of Summer"), and then on to a slight country twang ("Complimentary Me"), Ziman's Disney-princess-pure mezzo makes her sound much like an amalgamation of every other young female singer in the game. (www.elizabethandthecatapult.com)

Author rating: 6/10

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