Slow music that sounds like the Velvet Underground in they were Californian.

California-band Tomorrows Tulips’ 3rd full length album, When, seems to ally with such New York sounds such as The Velvet Underground and The Sonic Youth than perhaps some of their California counterparts. Hazy guitar set to lethargic lyrics seem to manifest the same drug induced trance that other classic New York bands did.

“Baby‰” starts with a shriek of distortion, and that‰’s about all of the discomfort you hear in this album. It‰’s also about twice at fast as the other songs on this album. “Baby‰” is follow by “Surplus Store‰Û, probably the second fastest song on the album with a strong defined beat from the drums. “Surplus Store‰” also has a roaring guitar part that adds the perfect contrast to the melody in the vocals.

After the first two songs, Tomorrows Tulips must‰’ve gotten a side-ache and had to slow down. In “Glued to You‰” the lyrics are almost whispered creating an intimate, tender feeling that is accompanied by the humming fuzz guitar. The song ends like somebody pulled a plug on the microphones and the effect leaves the listener suspended momentarily listening to the silence.

“Confetti and Glue‰” starts with singing clean part that sours into a deep distorted yell. Tomorrows Tulips add a psychedelic lead part that weaves in and out to compliment the slow accented drumming. When one thinks of albums that tend to convey a sense of urgency or franticness, When would certainly not be on that list. It seems happy to be along for the ride and meanders through summery velvet haze at its own inert pace.

RIYL:The Velvet Underground, Sonic Youth, Kurt Vile
Recommended Tracks: 2, 5,11,12