4 
2006 ∙ Ace Fu ∙ Indie Rock
I’m generally not a fan of ethereal music. That’s my issue with the Annuals and their kind of dreamy approach to making tunes. It’s like there’s stuff floating below the surface that just wants to emerge, but they cover it up with this weird, gauzy production and layered vocals. They end up sounding like some hippy Phish band or something, which I know isn’t their thing, but I get this distinct impression of pot smoke, loose fitting pants and tapestries. Shame, as their second track, “Bleary Eyed,” has some good elements and sounds promising before they get bogged down in their own nonsense.