Trumpeter Swan
The Magnitude of Now
Reviewed by Melanie Haupt, Fri., March 14, 2014
Trumpeter Swan
The Magnitude of NowDrew Patrizi, formerly of locals What Made Milwaukee Famous, left the comforting nest of Austin for New York around 2010, his first album as Trumpeter Swan following shortly thereafter. Four years on, with a beefed-up roster of homegrown expats on board, Patrizi's hatched the follow-up, and it's no ugly duckling, rich with supple, confident musicianship. "Don't Stop the Music" uses its subject as an allegory for relationships, and, like the bulk of The Magnitude of Now, plays out deceptively peppy, wrapping despair in sweet indie-pop. The title track evokes Radiohead without the clinical chilliness, a magnum opus of heartbreak that culminates in a crescendo of roiling keyboard, pensive guitar, and the singer's plaintive musings: "How many broken hearts must thaw for the seasons to change?" Patrizi's voice remains clear and appealing, lacking the affectations of a less confident singer. A Swan spreads its wings. (8pm, Soho Lounge)