Slow, flowing tracks coat Auditorium as it resonates a combination of 60’s pop and 90’s alternative under Jim Putnam’s throaty melodies. Endearing and smooth, the entire album coasts by with a strong theme of pleasantness.
From the top of Auditorium to the bottom, no track goes faster than a trot, and the album’s heartbeat remains sturdy and calm throughout. "When Cold Air Goes to Sleep" is driven by a cymbal-tapping beat, Putnam’s cool strain, and rambling electric guitar. "Happy Spirits" features a sleepy acoustic guitar, breezy piano, and glowing vocal harmonies. "Hills of Stone" goes as far as to include a soft electronic buzz with its quiet, shuffling rhythm/piano combination. "Watching Cows", the second track to involve cows in its title, starts off highly subdued before evolving into a wiry country/western ballad.
Strongly thematic in its feathery alt-rock cool, Auditorium is clearly meant for times when energy isn’t a premium. It’s enough to lower blood pressure and cure insomnia while also a genuinely worthwhile glimpse of the softer side of countrified guitar/piano. The melodies are gorgeous, the rhythms soothing, and altogether a charming slice of Americana.
MP3 Stream: "Warm Rising Sun"
