Curtains For You

After Nights Without Sleep, the newest release by Seattle band Curtains for You, dropped yesterday, courtesy indie label Spark and Shine Records. If your record collection includes any Beach Boys, Beatles, vintage Harry Nilsson, and/or Posies–and if that jumpy mass occasionally occupying space on the surface of your sleeve is your heart–get thee to your local record store or online music provider, post-haste. Simply put, you won’t hear a better pure-pop record all year.

Vocalist/guitarist Matt Gervais and keyboardist/vocalist Peter Fedofsky (the band’s principal songwriters) share a love for classic songcraft, and best of all, the sensibilities to distill their influences into something far greater than the sum of their parts. Curtains been kicking around the local music firmament for about six years, but the last two years have seen them roaming a creative purple patch.

Their compositional styles–Gervais rooted in slightly more guitar-based rock, Fedofsky lending more ornate (and, obviously, piano-based) touches–compliment each other in stunning fashion. 2009's awesome What a Lovely Surprise to See You Here provided eleven bittersweet, unabashedly melodic bursts of magic, from Kinks-style ragtime shuffles like ‘Small Change’ to Fab Four-infused rays of sunshine like the luminous “Licorice Skies.” The sonic template remains the same on After Nights Without Sleep, only it’s done even better this time out.

The new record superficially follows the pattern laid down by Curtains on What a Lovely Surprise–five songs by Gervais, five songs by Fedofsky, and one track by a third band member (bassist Nicholas Holman, this time out). It pretty much bolts from the starting gate with a hit: “Daisy,” the album’s opening track, soars on a wave of pulsing drums and dual harmonies; lyrics rife with metaphors uniting square-peg misfits in awkward passion (“Just two daisies trying to fit in/In this rose garden”).

And the jewels keep coming, from the rollicking Beatles gallop of “What Good Am I to You Now?” to the catchy country shuffle of Holman’s “Bronx Zoo Hobo” to the Queen-gone-power-pop “Open Your Eyes.” The closest thing to an Achilles’ heel amongst the proceedings–the record’s sometimes too-polite production–gets ably sidestepped by the intelligent lyrics, and by refreshing bursts of swagger like “Eggs Over Toast,” the best slice-of-life rocker Elvis Costello never recorded.

There’s an enthralling undercurrent of darkness to After Nights Without Sleep that lends a gravity that only surfaced sporadically on What a Lovely Surprise. Make no mistake: this is still a hook-laden pop album. But Gervais’ lovely falsetto pulls a palpable ache from the circus-music bridge of “In the Last of the Light,” and a sense of wistful melancholy colors the Pet Sounds lope of “Photographic Memory.”

After Nights Without Sleep’s centerpiece, “The Wasteland,” stands as the album’s masterstroke, a lushly orchestrated, exquisite mash-up of “Eleanor Rigby” with Nilsson-style twilight romanticism. And when the band bursts into sumptuous wordless harmonies at the end, Curtains for You accomplishes one of pop music’s most cherished hat tricks–namely, making deep-set sadness abidingly beautiful–and irresistibly catchy. - The Sunbreak

"Given that the whole '70s-pop/vaudevillian/Harry Nilsson thing is big right now (right?), it's a good time to get turned on to Curtains For You, a local pop band claiming to find inspiration in Harry Nilsson, Rufus Wainwright, and the Beach Boys. It's a pretty grown-up version of some of the stuff that's big with the kids right now (e.g., Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground), but it's got a catchy, wistful attitude with piano-bar playfulness and croons about being fucked up. They play the part of vintage poppers, that's for sure. I bet they even wear suits and ties to practice."

--Megan Seling
- The Stranger

This Seattle-based British Invasion-meets-Beach Boys five-piece initially got my attention by being named (probably coincidentally) the same as a title by one of the very best power pop bands of all time, The Only Ones. But Matthew and Mikey Gervais (guitar/lead vocals, guitar/sax vocals, respectively), Nick Holman (bass, something called a euphonium, vocals), Peter Fedofsky (piano/vocals), and drummer Dave Lawrence share more than that in common with Peter Perrett's legendary punk era quartet. Though Curtains For You may have never heard The Only Ones, both groups are deliciously excessive in using 60s melodies to swoon and soar some really dark shit they sing about. And the backing band action is cracking tight on retro riffs and rhythms.

What A Lovely Surprise To Wake Up Here is the follow up to their debut Heaven's Waiting, which this site voted one as of the best of the region's releases not so long ago. Describing Curtains For You, it's not so surprising that they have been featured on KEXP, as their sound is both hook-filled but archly expressive. Thing is, Matt and Peter go half and half on the songwriting duties, yet the overall excellence makes it hard to separate their work from each other. The entire first half of the new ten track sophomore release is non-stop relationship-as-Vietnam mood with chorale harmonies crooned, and that horrid cliche about "getting better with each listen" becomes alarmingly true as one listens to Lovely Surprise. "Nuclear Age," "Dead World," and "Dumb Angel" could be depressing vignettes of baby falling down, over and over again, if the musical jangle and spank didn't distract from the tragedy told.

On the fourth track, "Title Bout," things get a bit more aggressive and messy, ending "side one" with the snarling "Chain Link Fence." The sheen of the vocals, vocals, vocals (no, seriously, look above at how many people in this band sing) drops off a bit and a certain rawness is exposed. Unfortunately, my least favorite track comes next ("Roadtrip To Disaster"), but it could just be its poppy exuberance is a charade to get the pop-punters back in the flow (and start the second half off with something less biting).

Taken together, the final five tracks aren't quite as cohesively stylized as what came before, but that's not a criticism. The best one here, "Small Change," taps into an unexpected punk-klezmer style for more caustic storytelling, and makes one clamor for more diversity from Curtains For You on their next release. I am going to confess I OD a little on all the sweet singing, as I play this album on repeat. But that's just it -- every time I play it I repeat it several times. What A Lovely Surprise To Wake Up Here has honestly restored my faith in real, well-played, sizzling good post-teenage pocket symphonies to God. It's in my own top ten of the year for sure.
- Three Imaginary Girls

Taking blatant ‘60s influences from The Beach Boys to The Beatles and whipping them into a whimsical, well-composed pop record are Seattle-based Curtains For You. Their sophomore record, What A Lovely Surprise To Wake Up Here, is a slew of upbeat melodies and harmonies disguising the intricate and dark lyrics presented atop of them. Truly a work blending “then” with “now”, the record takes a roller coaster ride through 40 years of quirky and lands right where Curtains For You belongs – one step closer to breaking through their small-time act into the mainstream.

“Nuclear Age” utilizes beautiful harmonies throughout and shows their expertise in shared songwriting. There is also immediately no struggle for a lead vocals position, as it feels naturally shared during its entirety. It really shows their cohesion as a band well, which is very respectable and worth your attention. Following the opener is the southern-tinged, mildly gothic-influenced track “Dead World”. Using some slide and fast pianos with Cure-esque vocals, Curtains For You once again takes your attention for their ability to fuse everything they’ve gained from their influences and make it work in pop brilliance.

The record continues through a few more pop ditties, yet the upbeat musicianship is thrown over tragic lyrics. It’s irony at its finest, really. “Dumb Angel” even opens with “I caught you making out with your hands on her hips and your legs tied in knots” and continues on about a cheating lover, but retains its catchy melodies throughout.

Splitting the record in half is the acoustic-driven “Chain Link Fence.” The record then takes a less focused feel and ends with a very pop-oriented track (“Roadtrip To Disaster”) to the rowdy “Clanging Of The Masses.” The finale track, “Licorice Skies,” opens with fireworks and returns to a well-composed pop structure and melody to close things out wonderfully. Having created what could have been a very successful split for a vinyl, Curtains For You presents 10 carefully crafted songs with perfect placement throughout.

With an overwhelming arsenal of song crafting ability backing this band, there is a lot of talent within its ranks that needs to be exposed- and quickly. What A Lovely Surprise To Wake Up Here is nothing near the worrisome “sophomore slump” and contains tracks created by a band that needs far more attention. This record really hasn’t any low point in terms of throwaway tracks, and only gets better with each play. –MATTHEW COLWELL
- Revolt

Last night Curtains For You played to a crowd that treated them like the pop sensations they well may become. When the band took the stage, women screamed like they were The Beatles. Curtains For You got a bigger reaction just stepping on stage than most bands get when a Seattle audience is demanding an encore.
As someone who’d slept on Curtains For You until now, the audience obviously knew something I didn’t: this band is one of Seattle’s best barely kept secrets and with what they bring to the stage, they won’t be a Seattle secret for long. Their new record What A Lovely Surprise To Wake Up Here, for which the night’s show was a CD release party, has a number of radio ready songs, retro-pop that’s as primed to melt hearts as it is to put a bounce in one’s step. At their best, Curtains For You sounds like the Fruit Bats with swooning, sunny, Beach Boys harmonies. Is what Curtains For You is doing new and innovative? No. But it is timeless, and incredibly well crafted.
The band played all but a couple of tracks off their new CD and managed to sound just as perfectly polished as they do on what listens like a painstakingly recorded and mixed album. Lead singer and song-writer Matt Gervais is a natural frontman, interacting warmly with both the audience and his band members. He brought a little rock ‘n roll to the lush pop sounds with jumps and high kicks that one would usually expect at an antic-filled punk show. Highlights of the evening included Peter Fedofsky’s and Gervais clever pop phrasing on songs like “Title Bout,” “Dumb Angel,” and “Small Change,” a sly vaudevillian pop number which featured bassist Nick Holman and guitarist Mike Gervais on euphonium, saxophone, and do-be-doo-wop backing.
Everything about the evening was impressive, from the songs, to the showmanship, to the devoted audience that danced and sang along to every tune. Curtains For You is definitely a band to keep an eye and an ear on. Songs this catchy are made to be enjoyed by the masses and Curtains For You is good enough that they should be.
- Sound on the Sound

There are two types of bands. The moody, highfalutin kind, obsessed with lyrics and imagery (vintage R.E.M., circa 1980’s-early 90’s), and the technical, melodic version (think The Beatles, and just about any band, British Invasion or otherwise, pre-1967). Curtains for You, definitely falls into the latter category. Despite their similarity to their idols, the Seattle based band is anything but derivative. Fusing the do-wop, rockabilly sound of previous eras with the grungy sensibility of their native city, they have managed to fashion an earnest yet prickly sound that is unique for our irony driven, snarky era.

The influence of The Beatles and early Pink Floyd is keenly felt in songs such as “The Nuclear Age” and “Dumb Angel.” Matthew Gervais’s vocals bring to mind early-Beatles era Lennon and McCartney. But don’t mistake them for one of the millions of Beatle clones. They have their own unique twist on the genre, with sardonic lyrics that would equal any a hipster band could come up with. It’s just hard to pay attention between the do-wop and the singing.

To be fair, a lot of the credit goes to the Gervais brothers’ Barrett-like sense of whimsy and dark humor, especially in songs like “Red Red Rose” and “Clanging of the Masses.” But it is really their vocal expertise (and that of their fellow band members, Nick Holman Peter Fedofsky and Dave Lawrence) that sets them apart from the herd of Seattle-Portland-LA bands on the scene at the moment. What they lack in nuance and subtlety, they make up for in due diligence to craft- and that’s more than can be said for many “indie bands” bands at the moment. Although not everyone will like their music (critics especially), their sincere style should not be overlooked. Nor, for that matter, should their talent.

At, $11, What a Lovely Surprise to Wake up Here is just the right thing to smooth a audiophile’s palatte.

–Jack Winn

- Racket Magazine

Pop music at its finest. With tightly orchestrated, melodic songs like "Nuclear Age" full of soaring harmony and kick-up-your-heels hooks, exclaiming that Seattle, Washington-based Curtains For You creates pop music at its finest is no understatment. A thorough listen to their latest album What A Lovely Surprise To Wake Up Here offers ample evidence to back up the claim.

Curtains For You are comprised of Matthew Gervais (guitar/lead vocal), Mikey Gervais (guitar/ sax/ vocals), Nick Holman (bass/euphonium/vocals), Peter Fedofsky (piano/vocals), and Dave Lawrence (drums). The band's lush, layered sound is a retro detour through 1960s-era Beatles and the British Invasion, past 90s-era Jellyfish and the endless split personalities of contemporary alt-rock and indie pop, daring to forge something that sounds incredibly fresh and listenable.

Intricate three- and four-part harmonies, free-spirited melodies, and sweet, sweet hooks all work toward the end result: memorable pop songs like "Nuclear Age" that do not wear out their welcome. Many of these tracks are songs that The Beatles and Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys might admire. The band recorded new material in the studio as close to their live sound as they could get, forgoing overdubs and studio sleight-of-hand. These songs sound fresh scrubbed, energetic, ready to zip across time zones.

While "Nuclear Age" is jam-packed with instrumentation and harmony, "Chain Link Fence" pulls back a bit to rely on gentle guitar and subdued vocals to deliver a wistful, timeless song. The entire album is a testament to Curtains For You giving their all to produce a polished, masterful recording that delights song after song.

- Present Magazine

This Seattle based, five-piece retro-pop outfit Curtains For You have the delicious melodies and intricate three- and four-part harmonies that make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. The band consists of Matthew Gervais (guitar/lead vocal), Mikey Gervais (guitar/ sax/ vocals), Nick Holman (bass/euphonium/vocals), Peter Fedofsky (piano/vocals), and Dave Lawrence (drums). Leaning on a big pile of 60's classic pop influences and structures, they put it in the blender and whip up into a fresh but totally familiar sound. The opener "Nuclear Age" sets the tone with a Beach Boys meets Jellyfish harmonic that's just irresistible. "This Dead World" is a Marshall Crenshaw meets Crowded House gem full of twisting lyrics and slinky slide guitar rhythms. And with a title like "Dumb Angel," I'll let you guess whose bag of vocal acrobatics they pull from. Every song here has a compelling hook and will win over plenty of fans, from the Merseybeat backing on "Title Bout" to the echoing guitars on "Clanging of The Masses." The influences are spread out quite a bit, not sticking to any set style - but the spirit of Elvis Costello seems to run throughout most songs on the album with a defiant narrative. A few exceptions are the vaudevillian "Small Change" and acoustic ballad "Chain Link Fence." And ending with the wonderful "Licorice Skies" it even touches on a bit of XTC-like majesty. Songwriting duties are split down the middle by Matt Gervais and Peter Fedofsky, both are great songwriters with tons of energy - and it takes a few listens to let all this sink in. A most welcome surprise that makes my top 10. - Powerpopaholic