You can bet that every review of Perhapst’s self-titled debut (this
one obviously included) is going to mention the credentials of the
band’s John Moen—an indie-rock hall-of-famer who’s played drums
with the Dharma Bums, Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, the Decemberists,
and Elliott Smith—as well as the fact that Malkmus contributes
some guitar work on the record and that fellow Decemberist Chris Funk
plays in the live band. While those are all interesting facts, the
truth is that this album doesn’t need crutches to distinguish
itself.
Perhapst (essentially a one-man studio project) is a
delightfully old-school indie-rock record that blissfully cruises down
quirky roads and meanders through sunny sonic meadows. Opening track
“Quote” wouldn’t sound out of place on a Sunset Valley album, while
“Blue Year” is a study in mellow melancholy that builds into some
choppy guitar crests. Rockers “Caution” and “Harbour” have a
rollicking, almost giddy feel to them—you know they’re going to
be a blast when the band play them live. The “ah-ooh-ah” choruses of
“Incense Cone” lend the song a disarming, naive quality, and the
buoyant “Maryanne” is a three-and-a-half-minute sugar rush of a pop
song.
Perhapst might not be breaking into any new territory, but
there’s a refreshing feeling of fun to the album. It’s reassuring to
hear a veteran musician creating music this unguarded and relaxed. With
all due respect to the Decemberists, it might not be such a bad idea to
let your drummer contribute a few unassuming gems.
Perhapst play Thurs June 5, Re-bar, 8 pm, $7, 21+. With Little
Pieces, Hazelwood Motel.
Perchance 
Mayhaps
Possibly
Maybe
Perhapst
Perhapst(In Music We Trust)