"This tape is largely to blame for my being behind on writing reviews, as I haven't listened (and still don't listen) to much anything else on my walkman. Five pop-brilliant kids from the Philadelphia-area form The Skywriters, sort of like how those five anime battle kids came together to form Voltron. Rose's singing comes through very mature and endearing, as Jayme and Neal's charming jangles and plinks entwine Joel's witty basslines and that's all put in their respective rhythmic places by Bethany who rocks it snappily on the beats. There just aren't any weaknesses to their well articulated old-school (mid-80's british) indie pop stylings. "My Friends Say" is such an instant pop hit that you won't know what hit you. It bursts and sparks and shoots across the living room and it totally brightens my day when I hear it. The head bop inducing "Movie Star" is another favorite of mine with its mean drum rolls and cute see-saw plinks on the strings. Keep up with the fast-slow-fast pace of "Glass Bottom Boat" and swing around on the tire swing one more time to "Tiger Tails". This brings me to "Government Out of My Backyard", my absolute favorite of the tape. It opens with these heart-melting jangle strums and subtle organs, followed by tumbly rolls by the rhythm section. The exceedingly sweet (not sweet as in cutesy but more in a "boy, can she really sing" way) vocals kick in, reminiscing a childhood crush (?). I have to stop everything when this comes on. "Harden Your Heart" and "The Bottom Stair" round out this fabulous cassette, totally leaving you wanting more -- which is okay because they have a 5-song EP coming out on Brentwood Estates. Yesss! The Skywriters make me want to doloop-de-loops. Contact them via email: skywriters@yahoo.com." - Light Rotation (review of first demo)
"I like this Skywriters CD. Sweet sugary swoonful boy/girl indiepop in the vein of Heavenly and Mondo Crescendo. Girl vocals over strummy guitar. The drummer has the beats to bop my shaggy head around. It's a light listen, not to complex. These guys and gals would fit in with the "Kindercore" camp." - Kickbright Zine (review of CD EP)
"You saw me gush over their demo tape, so you're probably
approaching this review with caution. Well, I can't guarantee anything, but let me just say that The Skywriters are absolutely delightful live and in recording. I was extra psyched when two of my favorites from the demo, "Movie Star" and "Government Out Of My Backyard", made their way onto this five-song EP. As if to say "take us there, Skitch," the EP opens with Bethany's cool-ass intro beat (with reverb, giving it an extra oomph) on "Movie Star". Yeah it jangles, sashays and charms just like it should. "Everytime I Pass The Test" has this cute intro which has everyone introducing themselves by playing this ditty on their instrument. It then picks up to a full trot, breezing by the swooning competition. My super-favorite "Goverment Out Of My Backyard" is the next song and I was even more impressed with how it came out this time around. I *adore* the new "ba-ba-la-la-la" part towards the end, it's just so wonderful. This song is still my favorite. "Maybe Baby" features the girl-boy vocal action of Rose and Neal and you'll agree this should take place more often. It gets a teentsy bit garagey, too! Finishing out the EP is the bright, toe-tappy, hand-clappy "King Of Noise". It urges you to shake your hair side to side, and I like that. Damn, what makes The Skywriters so good? I don't know. Maybe
I should listen to the EP again." - Light Rotation (review of CD EP)
"The quintessential definition of indiepop! 6 happy songs of clean guitars, cute girl vocals and lots of smiling going on no doubt! This will definitely have you smiling instantly!" - Clairecords Mailorder (review of CD EP)
"There's an amusing, if pointless, argument to be had about whether the fact that more current indie bands don't sound like the Smiths and New Order is due to anything more principled than their own incompetence, but given how much innovation in music, historically, has basically come about by kids trying to imitate their favorite bands and failing in some interesting way, I'm not sure it makes a difference. Bands that really do manage to sound as much like original-issue New Wave brit-pop as the Garlands are by far the exception, for which the corresponding rule is bands like the Philadelphia quintet the Skywriters, whose self-titled five-song EP came out last year on the Providence label Brentwood Estates. I don't know how old the members of the Skywriters are, but my guess, based on the music, is that New Wave reached them secondhand, via some combination of Sarah and K Records, as they sound to me like a fairly cogent approximation of a cross between the Field Mice and Beat Happening. Rose or Bethany, whichever of the women it is singing, has an cheerfully unaffected delivery, like Heavenly's Amelia Fletcher without the English accent, and the rest of the band skips along with an artless oompah exuberance which momentarily leaves me amazed that every basement pop group doesn't come out playing skiffle. The booming, grooveless drums and one-note-at-a-time guitar hooks of "Movie Star" make the Posies' Failure sound overwritten. "Everytime I Pass the Test" careens from early-REM-like jangle to the Skywriters' own nod to scratchy Wedding Present guitar spasms to a nervous chorus that could have been borrowed from an old Guadalcanal Diary song. "Government Out of My Backyard", despite the defiant title, is wistful pop on the order of Suddenly, Tammy! played by people still learning their instruments. "Maybe Baby", with one of the guys joining in for a duet, sounds to me like Tullycraft halfway morphed into the Swimming Pool Q's. And "King of Noise", the last song, simultaneously mournful and giddy, may be what I hoped Amy Rigby's second album was all going to sound like. I probably find three more bands that sound like this every month, and I'm sure I don't discover a tenth of the ones that exist, but like heartfelt and obsessively self-critical zines by articulately frustrated fifteen-year-olds, or movies with ex-MSCL cast members, or taquerias who understand that guacamole isn't a liquid, I'd support them all if I could." - The War Against Silence (review of CD EP)
"The Skywriters are five completely adorable people from Philadelphia who write sweet jangly love songs. The five songs on this EP are loaded with simple melodies, strummy guitars (electric and acoustic), tambourines, and handclaps (!), all accompanied by the cutest girlie vocals. They describe it as a “full-on love pop vibe,” and I couldn’t say it better. It’s all very cheerful and happy and makes me want to bop my head around, but that’s about all. I think I’m just too cynical for such sweet music. The songs aren’t too distinctive, and they don’t really hold my attention, but they’re definitely not bad. I give this record 3 and half red hearts, the extra half just because they are so damn cute!" - Laura (of Santa Cruz) (review of CD EP)
"While Philadelphia has become widely renowned for its thriving noise rock/psychedelia scene as of late, the city has finally produced some of its first truly worthy indie-pop bands. Inspired by the Calvin Johnson/Ameila Fletcher/Rose Melberg school of crash pop songcraft, the immensely promising pair of Rabbit In Red and the Skywriters have both released wonderful records on reputable labels in the last year or so. Picked up by the wiser than ever Blackbean label, Rabbit In Red charge through catchy anthems characterized by sweet boy-girl vocals and sly lyrics about life, love, dreams, and well, the New Jersey turnpike. But what will surely stick with you most is the knockout surf-inspired guitar work, filled with both noisy hooks and pristine noodling. And the occasional appearance of upbeat horns and strings seal the band's fate as truly skilled purveyors of pogo-ready hits. The Skywriters are certainly not your average indie-pop band either. Jangly without being airy and funny without being farcical, these five friends sound inspired by everything from Unrest to Buddy Holly, although you may even hear hints of obscure twee wonders like the Ninjas and Sissybar. Like the Rabbit In Red album, this five-song debut (on Brentwood Estates, home to fellow Philly popsters the Parcels) was produced with an effervescent glow by Arik Victor and Mike Bardzik, our pals from the local Creep label. While the Skywriters "nerdy and cute" approach is something I've heard done a hundred times before, it has rarely been this immediately affecting and repeatedly listenable. With two such quality bands nearly right next door, maybe I won't have to look across the country or overseas for my sugary pop fix." - Skyway (review of Rabbit in Red CD & Skywriters CD EP)
"...if you're tired of a scene dominated by boys, their clothes, their hair and their drama, I do recommend The Skywriters, who always elicit innocence and giddiness even in the blackest of hearts." - Philadelphia Daily News (write up for a show)
"Propelled by Rose Bochansky’s geek-girl vocals, The Skywriters specialize in jangly indie-pop songs about puppy love. Recent shows have allowed their playing to mature without losing any of its jaunty spontaneity. ...join The Skywriters for a night so sugary, you’ll have to brush your teeth three times when it’s over." - City Paper (write up for a show)
"These kids from Philadelphia are flying the flag for rocking-but-light-on-its-feet indiepop and we should all be glad. On this snappy 5-song CD EP the five-piece 'Writers bring to mind a gravitas-free Small Factory or a low-tech Velocity Girl playing around a campfire. This stuff ain't twee - it's just melodic, song-based pop that relies on emotion and energy, instead of volume and posturing, to get its point across." - The Big Takeover (review of CD EP)
Your Love Turns The World Skywriter Blue
