Blue Velvet Drapes - I Used to Love the Color Red

Blue Velvet Drapes

​I Used to Love the Color Red
self-released; 2016

3.4 out of 5

By Ted Rogen
​

Blue Velvet Drapes is a band from Los Angeles, California consisting of Anna Rodriguez (vocals/keys), Luis Rivera (guitar/keys), Pedro "Betty" Mejia (guitar), Travis Villegas (bass), Edgar Barajas (drums) and Raul Rivera (drums). The band recently released I Used to Love the Color Red, which contains straightforward indie rock/pop songs. 

The band first formed in high school and now all band members attend college. They have been together around three years and while they aren’t on the cusp of inventive music you can tell they have some chemistry.

The music feels clean and doesn’t take a lot of effort to enjoy. There isn’t too much distortion from any instrument and Rodriguez has soft, delicate sounding voice. 

The band starts with “Nothing Personal” which revolves around clean guitars, a steady beat and a refined bass. It’s catchy and goes down easy. Rodriguez’ vocals feel like a sedative on the verse when she sings, “Sneaking suspicion lingering mission / You turn to yourself but It ain't good enough / Cling to your pillows for here comes the billow / It takes you away / Now you're astray.” They lyrics are original. Not many people will rhyme pillow with billow. 

“April” is another song that is easy to enjoy. The music is reminiscent to The Shins and arguably Grizzly Bear. Lyrically they seem to be about a relationship but there is certainly some ambiguity in there. Lines like, “You break rules / With vocal tools / And climb up the walls” are up in the air for interpretation.

“Anchor and Compass” is free of drums giving it a different feel than the first two songs while “Conundrum” features Rodriguez and a male counterpart. “Sweet Potato” utilizes light pads and modulation effects to give it a much more ethereal feel from the songs that came before. They close with “Will You Remember?” which is a seven-plus-minute song. I have mixed feelings about some of the more ominous sounds they implement here. That being said there are some memorable parts in the song.

Blue Velvet Drapes is a good college band. Are they one of the best indie rock bands on the planet? Not yet. College bands come and go so let's see what happens here. They are certainly ones to keep on your radar.

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