Sleepless Dreamer

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Moving away from the psych and garage pop affectations of her debut EP, Los Angeles native Pearl Charles turns in a nicely polished full-length collection of country-inspired indie pop that is easy on the ears. After years cutting her teeth in a variety of underground bands like the Driftwood Singers and the Blank Tapes, Charles landed on the roster of California's notoriously lo-fi Burger Records imprint, which released her eponymous 2015 EP. Switching over to Brooklyn's Kanine label, she returns with Sleepless Dreamer, a ten-song set that sees her raw jangle pop maturing into something earthier and more nuanced, effectively pulling her out of the garage and onto a bigger stage. With her lilting voice and breezy melodic sense, highlights like "All the Boys" and "Ghost" have the crisp rhythmic punch of mainstream pop, yet somehow stay refreshingly earthbound thanks to producer Kenny Woods. The overall feel of Sleepless Dreamer is distinctively Californian, evoking coastal highways in fading light as country twang meets city pop smarts. There's a Jeff Lynne-era Tom Petty vibe to the title track, with its laid-back vocals cruising effortlessly over a strident strumming pattern. Not every song hits the mark, but it's packaged well with the standouts in the front seat and enough vibe to carry it across state lines.
© Timothy Monger /TiVo