News bullentin: Brad Postlethwaite, major figure in psych-pop group Snowglobe, has released an album straight out of left (wing) field. To the surprise of the legions, Welcome to the Occupation is a political pop record, and an unexpected move considering Postlethwaite's musical background and the lack of such statements in the indie world. If anyone had any doubts about Postlethwaite's beliefs, all they need is to glance at the album insert: "It is ... intended to be an attack on our society's self-absorbed and isolationist attitude as well as the corporations that nurture it." Postlethwaite must tread cautiously. The political record is a slippery creature by nature, and must be handled carefully. It's hard to avoid sounding preachy, and such music is often considered contradictory, in that serious political statements are attempted with something as disposable and temporary as a pop song. But generally, it comes down to the songs. In the melody category, this solo record is sometimes quite successful, but lacks the spark that makes Snowglobe a talented indie-pop band. Welcome to the Occupation is a fairly stripped down affair, like many solo records, and Postlethwaite uses extra sounds sparingly. As with Snowglobe's work, the array of echoy, distant noises, which sometimes make an appearance are a welcome addition. Postlethwaite can certainly spin a good tune, but many of the tracks on this record sputter at the starting line. "Greatest Highest" falls well short of its anthemic pretensions. Highlights such as "Empty Burning" redeem the record to some degree but fail to raise it to any heights. Welcome to the Occupation is a well produced affair, but it's difficult to ignore the disconnection between Postlethwaite's approach to songwriting and his politics. The release of Postlethwaite's record is, of course, timed to coincide with the war and occupation of Iraq. As the death, disease, and poverty continue to plague that Middle Eastern nation, Postlethwaite's
