Laarks

An Exaltation of Laarks

(Absolutely Kosher)

Wisconsin art rockers Laarks is just the type of band the trendy indie critics at Pitchfork drool over: a warble-y voiced lead singer, prominent use of synthesizers, and a strong affinity for Death Cab for Cutie songs. I don’t write for Pitchfork, so I can be honest and tell you there’s very little to get excited about over the band’s debut An Exaltation of Laarks. The band is not bad, not a bit, but they are far from being original. Songs like “You Know They Do” and “Where Do You Wanna Live?” sound like they came off a Death Cab rarities album. The 10 songs that make up their record are, for the most part, a pretty solid collection of lilting indie pop. It’s just too bad the Laarks sound more like a cover band executing them.