Very often, it is the artist’s moniker and/or album title that can draw us to give it a listen. In the case of Amsterdam, Netherlands shape-shifter Cosmic Crooner, it is his moniker and the album’ very tongue-in-cheek title – The Perks of Being a Hypocrite.
What we can find inside is his no less intriguing combination of the sophistic-pop that covers almost anything from the ’50s up to the ’70s. From Frank Sinatra and Roy Orbison to doo wop (mainly as heard through the ears of the early Beach Boys) and Lou Reed to Jacques Brel and French new wave film scores, and Brazilian Tropicalia.
Yet, to be able to come up with a plausible musical concoction from such a heady brew, you need to have both the songwriting and vocal chops to pull it through. On evidence here, this cosmic guy has ample abilities with both, and his lyrics definitely don’t lag behind, recalling the ‘highs’ of the psych era:
Popsicle place you can’t get me
– “Popsicle Place”
Followed for days
Electric stairways up the mountain
Just made him ache
Borrowing lines from this circus
I hope you don’t mind
I feel like a spy sometimes
Definitely, an artist to watch (and hear).
