Spells

It’s been a long, strange trip for The Pharmacy since their founding in 2005. The Seattle trio gradually moved away from their early lo-fi leanings toward more danceable sounds before adopting an urbane, Kinks-like pop approach. Spells takes The Pharmacy back toward the woozy ambiance of their first few releases without losing the gains made in songcraft over the years. Echoes of such ‘60s garage rock icons as The Syndicate of Sound and The Night Crawlers can be heard here, served up with a semi-ironic edge reminiscent of The Meat Puppets. Kyle Burnette’s production doesn’t let the murky washes of reverb obscure the sharp hooks imbedded in the tunes. Scott Yoder’s vocals radiate a Summer of Love sweetness tempered by a certain wry detachment. “Coat Tales,” “Masten Lake Lagoon,” and “All My Reminders of When” typify his band’s ability to sound both naïve and self-knowing. Forays into vintage country-rock (“Anna Bella”), early-‘60s teen pop (“Cool and Calm”), and stoner balladry (“Strange”) add further sonic shadings.