The New Mendicants Into The Lime

Featuring a heartwarming backstory of middle-aged man-bonding, The New Mendicants is the result of Normal Bloke (Teenage Fanclub) and Joe Pernice (Pernice Brothers/Scud Mountain Boys) hooking up in Toronto over a shared love of Big Star, comfortable cardigans and spacious 2 car garages. Bless ‘em.

Even those with the faintest interest in the history of the two men will agree that their music is born to go together- transatlantic cousins with the same aim of producing nice jangly melodic songs. After an EP and a seven inch this is their first full length album clocking in at a short 31 minutes but jammed full with three minute golden harmonious pop. Pernice sings most of the tracks therefore the album has much more of a Pernice Brothers feel than Teenage Fanclub and it dispenses with the rockier aspects of the Scottish lads and sways gentle throughout, as if strummed happily on a pair of soft armchairs.

Because of this almost soporific style, standout songs are at a premium, it all kinda sounds ‘nice’ though Pernice has some mid album highlights. ‘High On The Skyline’ rocks gently with a chorus worthy of Glen Campbell. They cover Sandy Denny’s ‘By The Time It Gets Dark’ (with Blake taking a rare lead vocal) with the only anomoly to the pleasantness is ‘Lifelike Hair which comes across as one of The Velvet Underground's more discordant moments and providing a bit of edge late on in proceedings sounding like it comes from a different album altogether.

Although it never gets close to the best work of either of their earlier outfits its a pleasant enough detour down the back roads of sunshiney, laid back guitar pop.