Pierre de Reeder’s Optimistic Pop

As the bassist for popular Los Angeles heartbreakers Rilo Kiley, Pierre de Reeder has taken a back seat to two child actors at the peak of their careers. So to say that he’s got his work cut out for him is a major understatement. Especially since he’s not exactly taking chances on lyrics or sonics, but keeping it close to the vest as an openly positive piano popper. I reviewed his solo debut for Metromix, and tried to stay happy.

Pierre de Reeder, The Way That It Was
As far as sedate pop goes, de Reeder has the goods. The opener “Shame On Love” takes some uninspired lyrics (“But it’s one thing to be broken and down, and it’s one thing to be resigned/And all this time I’m waking up to what it means to be in love”) and hides them beneath an otherwise spaced-out bounce that moves with ease. The piano balladry of “Sophia’s Song” clings to overt sentiment, but it’s hard to be cynical about it when you find out it’s for his young daughter. The jangled bop of the title track is similarly straightforward. De Reeder doesn’t take too many chances, but neither does he fail at heart-tugging pop music that is unabashedly optimistic and good-natured. MORE