Release Date: (June, 2005)
Label: 7 Spin Music
Producer: Riley Armstrong,Quinlan, and Rick Colhoun

December Hotel
Overall Rating:  ++++

(Melting)

Riley Armstrong is a mixed bag. I was on the bandwagon when when he was an indie going by the moniker of Plain Edson. His formula was quite simple. Soft and pretty vocals, mid-tempo white-boy beats, and layers of melodic acoustic guitars, not that unlike early-era Jars Of Clay. Well, after a major signing, and 2 relatively successful full-lengths, Armstrong is now in self-induced indie-land once again. Preferring to spend his down time in his beautiful homeland of Alberta, Canada, and being recently married, he asked to be released from his contract with Flicker Records and signed with newly DIY's 7Spin (hopefully I have my facts straight).

The good news for you is that La Loop is Armstrong's best album to date, while still dabbling in all the familiar territory that made him so lovable. All the new album lacks is a single with the strength of "The Only", although "All The Good Idea's Are Gone" is instantly pleasurable. "Anthem From 4th Place" is an honest commentary on not measuring up to others, yet staying true to your heart, and the song works as a perfect introduction to the 9 tracks that follow. "Above Every Name" is a very worshipful number that slowly turns into a song everybody sang in church about 15 years ago. Nicely done, and few artists could pull it off. No Riley Armstrong album is ever without its ode to humor, and on La Loop, "Cassette Decks" and "Cell Phone" take on the cheeky task. "Cassette Decks" works, with its Beck-esque pulsing bass line and throwback vibe, but "Cell Phone" probably should've been saved for a hidden track, because it strikes me as slightly filler. While not a bad song, it is the one mis-step on La Loop and Riley would've been better served going back to his song vault and adding an 11th track to this full-length. "A Lot Can Happen In A Year" and "Birdhouse" are 2 vital songs wisely placed toward the end of the album, giving you the sense that La Loop completely airtight.

Riley Armstrong will likely be forever plagued as Beck-lite, and in many ways, that's not too far from the truth, but Armstrong has developed a unique craft on this outing. The album title is quite fitting, as most of these songs could pass as (lite) remixes if you didn't know the original. I like it..a lot. Call it smart alt-pop. Well done, Mr. Armstrong.

~ Garrett Johnson