CheekyChicago

As the cover art for Coconut Records’ second release, Davy, suggests, there are numerous pathways to the man behind the band. Jason Schwartzman – an actor mostly known for his work in such films as Rushmore, I Heart Huckabees and The Darjeeling Limited – first branched out into music as the drummer of Phantom Planet. Though Phantom is no more, Schwartzman wasn’t quite done making his mark on the music scene. The entire enterprise of Coconut Records is proof of this: he plays all the instruments and sings. Oh… and the album itself? Amazing.

Davy is a cross between 60s pop – think The Beatles and The Monkees – and the laid back, earnest sound of the 90s which characterized Elliot Smith. Short and sweet (it’s less than 30 minutes), Schwartzman relies on catchy melodies and straightforward lyrics to describe his life thus far.

“Drummer” comments on time spent in and the downfall of Phantom Planet, but there aren’t any heavy-handed, veiled metaphors here. It is what it is: “And I was a drummer in a band that you’ve heard of / And I was a drummer in a band that just broke up / Isn’t that the way it goes?”

Schwartzman goes on to tear a page straight out of a Lennon/McCartney songbook with the Beatles-influenced “Saint Jerome”. Over pop-driven piano chords he tries to figure out where a relationship took a wrong turn and pleads, “I don’t ever wanna be alone / Oh Saint Jerome / Come home.” (Why he is telling the patron saint of librarians this, I have no idea – but it’s still a memorable song, nonetheless.)

“The Summer” is a song that seems to be the continuation of the single, “West Coast” from CR’s first release, Nighttiming. In “West Coast”, Schwartzman sings that he’s going back to the West coast, and wishes that his significant other would come with him. Ultimately, she does not, and he’ll miss her. “The Summer” sounds the same both stylistically and lyrically with a few changes, except this time, he’ll miss her “forever, more than you will know.”

The album ends with “Is This Sound Okay?” – a slow ballad that begins with scarce piano and ends with heavy guitar. Yes, Jason, I really think it is.

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