Sofa City Sweetheart is the music project of Los Angeles musician J. Lopez, hence the aptly titled “The J. Lopez Collective.”
The CD packs an astonishing 30 tracks onto a single disc; though it is self-described as “a collection of acoustic demos, silly songs, and recording experiments from 2005,” what stands out most is the sincerity and purity of the recordings, despite the fact that they’re lo-fi. (Disclaimer: I am a huge fan of lo-fi recording techniques, so that’s why I chose to review this particular album. If you’re more into modern sounds (Belle & Sebastian, later Sufjan Stevens, etc) you might like the 2008 self-titled “Sofa City Sweetheart” EP release better)
Songs like “Stanley Waited,” (about an elderly man who cares for his ailing wife), and “Annie Stays Home,” are lyrically solid and gorgeously sung by Lopez’s falsetto that cuts over any hiss or pops in the recording. Lo-fi quality of the recordings, and brevity of demo tracks aside, J. has a voice that could stop an entire room in its tracks.
When listening to songs like “Paula,” and “The Singer,” one doesn’t mind or notice at all that this is primarily a record with only guitar and vocals. Instead, you feel like you’re sitting in a backyard, next to a fire, listening to the handsome shy boy with the guitar serenade you for hours. It feels like the intimate first performance of a dear friend who’s been practicing in his bedroom for days, weeks, even years. The casual, homey atmosphere comes through as an integral part of this album, the “fifth man,” if you will.
My favorite song on the album is the heartbreakingly beautiful “Andy n’Me,” a song dedicated to a (friend? mother?) who disapproves of a relationship. The harmonies are on pointe, the song has a smooth circular, wavelike motion to it, and the lyrics will break your heart as they glide and coast over lush & jazzy pop chords.
Cute songs like “Brontosaurus Boogie” and “Thank You Mr. Fishy” make this 30 track CD (priced at $9.99) well worth the price of admission, earning it the first “Worth The Money” badge on Birdhouse Reviews.
For fans of: Elliott Smith, early Sufjan Stevens (or other acoustic artists on Asthmatic Kitty), mid-range Kinks, DIY / bedroom recordings
Mood: Outdoor campfire, backyard BBQ, relaxing with a warm sweater on
