Times of Acadiana 2005
Sparrow: The Early Years (Absolutely Kosher) — Don’t be put off by the red herrings: talented, nostalgia-drunk garage-pop musician Jason Zumpano names his latest band after a famous calypso singer (Sparrow) then titles that band’s third album The Early Years (although it was recorded last summer), thereby misleading calypso fans and nostalgia-drunk garage-pop fans simultaneously. For the most part, Zumpano’s latest attempt to capture the perfect record he’s been hearing in his head since his Sub Pop debut 10 years ago makes getting past such camouflage worth the effort; and, in case you’re among the too many who don’t know, Zumpano’s perfect record is a mixture of psychedelically delicate Left Banke pop and as much psychedelically indelicate Jimmy Webb “MacArthur Park”-era overproduction as an indie band’s relatively limited budget will allow. Rating: Three-and-a-half Renees walking away through all that sweet green icing flowing down out of five.