I can’t quite put my finger on what it is about this debut from Canadian singer-songwriter Tam Isabel Pardo — who goes by just her first name and got her start learning Django Reinhardt tunes and playing in Oasis cover bands — but I can’t stop listening to it. Maybe it’s the songwriting, a sort of poor man’s version of Exile in Guyville–era Liz Phair. Maybe it’s the nonchalant charm of Tam’s vocals, which are out of tune half the time. Maybe it’s recording engineer/multi-instrumentalist Johnny Souranis’s ragged lo-fi approach, which fits her songs and voice like a glove. Maybe it’s curious moves like opening the 17-track album with three covers: a delightfully shambling version of Arcade Fire’s “No Cars Go” and two songs by the obscure British Columbia metal band Daddy’s Hands. Maybe it’s all of the above. Tam + Dana Kletter + Dania Shapes | P.A.’s Lounge, 345 Somerville Ave, Somerville | August 12 | 617.776.1557
On the Web:
http://www.myspace.com/tamofvampires
