The Trolleyvox
intro || mp3 || reviews
Magnet For the sheer chills-down-your-back joy of pop music, you won't do any better than this debut album by Philadelphia's Trolleyvox. Songwriter Andrew Chalfen, an alumnus of way-back indie rockers the Wishniaks, has crafted 11 flawless pieces of pop perfection, examining boy/girl stuff from infatuation to heartbreak with wit and a kind of sweet optimism. Better yet, Chalfen has found singer Beth Filla to give voice to his yearnings and musings. Imagine Stephin Merritt's 6ths project with less despair and more hope and you come pretty close to what Chalfen and Filla accomplish with the aid of pop-genius producer Adam Lasus (Versus, Small Factory). The record is remarkably consistent, but special mention must be made of the sublime "Don't Turn Me On' and the crushing "Send Me." Ephemera for the Future is a totally unexpected treat and will reward you with plenty of source material for that mix tape you're making for your own personal obsession. - Phil Sheridan The Big Takeover When you say the nebulous term "power-pop," this is the smooth but energetic kind every person favors. You know, the original archetype, the Revolver-Beatles kind in text (the opening "If I Could Only Get Out of This Chair" grabs McCartney's famous "Taxman" bassline like Trollyvox [sic] is sitting in a comfy chair), and the ringing, big, hollow-body Rickenbacker-Byrds kind in sonic approach, only sounding completely 90's, not museum vintage. Like any old genre being synthesized, bands run the risk of sounding dated and overmatched when they take on moldy gods, but not when informed by such ringing production (whoever Adam Lasus is, he's fantastic) and such lively playing. This is not the work of teens in a garage, but it's also not too polished and dainty, even on the quieter comedowns such as "Don't Turn Me On." Nor is it too unkempt and disorderly. It's that space in between, really well played and expertly composed and arranged (by band mastermind and superb guitarist) Andrew Chalfen, with first rate modern sound. The unpretentious, cagey vocals from budding star Beth Filla don't hurt either, and let's hope they can get knockout drummer Ken Buono to join full-time. A real keeper!!!! - Jack Rabid City Paper In the barren desert of modern guitar rock, The Trolleyvox’s just-released debut album is a cool, sparkling glass of pop. Masterminded by ex-Wishniak Andrew Chalfen, who wrote the songs and plays every instrument but drums, ephemera for the future (Groove Disques) is a perfect lazy Sunday listen, full of chiming chords and winding melodies. Singer Beth Filla’s dreamy voice is the sound of every wrong turn you’ve ever made, and the lyrics are come-ons and kiss-offs, ruminations on relationships gone sour and hopeful pleas to try again. Despite its self-marginalizing title, Ephemera is what mainstream music would be if the mainstream weren’t thoroughly polluted: clean-scrubbed (thanks to Adam Lasus’ production), heart-tugging, gorgeous. Augmented live by the rhythm section of Kevin Karg (The Rolling Hayseeds) and Bret Tobias (The Bigger Lovers), the ’Vox should be well on their way to being Philadelphia next big stars — or at least its next Big Star. - Sam Adams