Album Mini-review: Quilt — Plaza
File next to: Woods, Fresh & Onlys, Mikal Cronin
With Plaza, Boston-based Quilt dials back the more overt psychedelic/garage textures of their first two full-lengths. Keyboardist Anna Fox Rochinski remains the primary vocal focus, but guitarist Shane Butler takes the lead on the Monkees-flavored “Searching For,” and other tunes feature a dual male-female lead vocal in the tradition of Jefferson Airplane and HP Lovecraft. Quilt puts care into the melodies; rather than a brooding, Velvet Underground style vibe, they craft tunes with melodies that will stick with the listener. Rochinski’s combo organ remains a key component of Quilt’s aural sculptures, but it’s integrated into arrangements that are less backward-looking than what came before. (That said, “Hissing My Plea” recalls The Beatles‘ “Taxman.”) Fans of the group’s 2011 debut and 2014’s Held in Splendor won’t find the group’s pivot jarring; the gentle folk-rocking ambiance of tunes like “Eliot St.” is warm and welcome.
This review appeared previously in the Colorado Springs Independent.
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4500-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he taught a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.