The Head and the Heart

Since Sub Pop's grunge years glory days, the Seattle, WA-based label has gone out of its way to diversify its roster in an attempt to avoid being pigeonholed as a clearinghouse for any particular genre. But by reissuing the Head and the Heart's self-titled debut, the venerable indie powerhouse is looking to capitalize on the success of similar Seattle acts Fleet Foxes and Iron & Wine. Armed with acoustic guitars, piano and gang vocal choruses, the Head and the Heart seem to have everything you'd want in a folk-leaning indie pop band. But in successfully replicating the sound du jour the sextet forgot to carve out a niche for themselves. While all the elements are in place, these ten songs fail to produce a memorable hook or chorus. Maybe the folks at Sub Pop know something we don't, but the best thing about The Head and the Heart is that it's a competent, serviceable record. Two words that, in critic speak, translate to "next, please."