Not to take anything away from the fine rhythm section of this San Francisco-based band, but The Campbell Apartment is by and large a vehicle for songwriter Ari Vais, who puts on a clinic in the very practice with “Curmudgeon.” Whether spitting out imagery describing the vacuity of office work set to an intense burst of melodic noise in “VP of Snails,” having a blast with wordplay in the good-natured romp “You Winsome, You Loathsome” or breaking listeners’ hearts detailing the emotional ups and downs of a couple struggling with infertility in the aching piano ballad “Since November,” Vais seems to tackle any subject with first-rate songs firmly wedded to melodic hooks.
Fellow revered pop tunesmith Chris Collingwood of Fountains of Wayne provides a gushing review of Vais’ writing inside the cover, and one is inclined to agree with what Collingwood describes as the cinematic aspects of Vais’ compositions. The most striking example is “I Know What I’ve Done,” a tale of an assassin taking out an unnamed despot while “his bigoted fans/messed their britches and ran.” With its insistent beat alternating a pounding timpani with handclaps, punctuated by a plucky banjo, the result is an utterly original record, and yes, its rich lyrical imagery leaves the listener with the impression of somehow having just seen a film. Kudos to the production crew are in order as well, as they sprinkle just enough tinsel on every track to make each stand out.
Despite the few moments when Vais is in a lighter mood (playing the part of a joyful dad in “Baby’s Wedding Day,” which utilizes a delicious riff Paul Westerburg would be proud of, or tossing off a McCartney-esque pastiche in “Burn Baby Burn”), a theme of personal struggle emerges throughout most of the tracks. Song titles like “Frustration Station” and “Ready for the Crawl” certainly indicate it, though one could be forgiven for missing how the narrator admonishes himself for slowly sinking into alcoholism in “The Mirror” due to its insanely catchy melody. Same goes for opening track “VP of Snails,” where the top-notch tune and the pummeling rhythm section make it easy to overlook it's about surrendering to boardroom boredom for a paycheck. The album’s sole misfire is “Burning Bridges,” an undistinguished rocker written and sung by bassist Kevin Frank, and the only tune on the album not composed by Vais (an outside lyricist is employed on a couple songs that sound no different than the ones Vais penned independently). Maybe if “Burning Bridges” weren’t surrounded by so many gems, it would shine brighter, but “Curmudgeon” is mainly Vais’ show, and it’s one worth seeking out, on Mint 400 Records.
-Wayne Trela, BMN Contributor