Album: Radar Bros., ‘The Illustrated Garden’

Kevin Bronson on March 26th, 2010

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Radar Bros., “The Illustrated Garden” (Merge) – “I want you, I need you / Right now, my life’s on a cereal box,” Jim Putnam sings on “Quarry,” and you’re not sure whether he’s entranced in a moment of morning reverie or fretting over his bio. It’s probably not the latter – Putnam has been making literate, engaging indie-pop since Silver Lake was a neighborhood you’d think twice to walk through. “The Illustrated Garden,” Radar Bros.’ sixth album and fourth for Merge, finds its sylvan nucleus in plants, animals and, yes, even “People.” Putnam’s understated vocal melodies and lovingly bent ’60s arrangements support all manner of lyrical subterfuge, and he delivers his metaphors with the childlike wonderment of man who’s gotten a fresh start. Which he has, since the original Radar Bros. lineup broke up in early 2009 (their last show was the album release party for “Auditorium”) and now he’s joined up with bassist Be Hussey, drummer Stevie Treichel, guitarist Dan Iead and keyboardist Brian Cleary. “The Illustrated Garden” is not the kind of album that will set hipster blogs atwitter, but as a deft piece of popcraft, it’s great to stop and smell the flowers. Recommended.