I get a lot of albums in the mail, a lot. Every one of them comes with one-sheet containing information and descriptions that suggest that they are the albums for me. And while most of them are filled with bombastic and over exaggerated wordage, every once in a while you come across one that lives up to the expectations developed after reading that wonderful one-sheet. The Alphabetical Order is one of those bands.
I am Magically Happening! is the debut full-length from The Alphabetical Order. This four-piece indie-rock outfit hails from D.C. and has assembled what I consider to be the ultimate amalgamation of "indie rock." This ten-song album is comprised of equal parts indie rock, post-punk, and college rock jazzed up with pop flavoring. Basically, think of your stereotypical college radio listening type and assemble a list of their favorite artists: Jawbox, Fuzagi, Sunny Day Real Estate, Modest Mouse, Hum, Sonic Youth, Gang of Four, etc. You get what I'm getting at.
From the opener, "Constant State," all the way through to the ending number, "Gestalt," The Alphabetical Order takes these influences, combines them together, and infuses them with the pop attitude of mainstream radio rock. Each song is comprised of catchy guitar melodies, upbeat drumming, and infectious vocal melodies. Like all albums, there are the standout moments and I am Magically Happening! has its fair share. The most memorable for me would be "Submarines." The guitars are super poppy, almost in a Franz Ferdinand kind of way, and they perfectly mesh with the bouncing rhythm section. Add in charming vocal harmonies and you've got a made for radio single.
While The Alphabetical Order is well honed at crafting indie rock tunes, they're still a ways off from writing the perfect album. The majority of the album is written in a style that can blend together. It'd be nice to see the band experiment a bit more with their sound, maybe allow bassist Kate Rears Burgman sing a bit more - they could tap into that market that Lemuria is grabbing at right now.
