Majestic

Majestic's sophomore CD suffers from no sophomore slump. The disc continues with the brightly layered sound they hinted at on their 1999 Shelflife Records debut, Live It Up!. Wake Up, Come out and Play starts off with singer Scott Schultz whisper-singing "wake up" over and over, and then the jangly guitar strum, drums, and horns kick in for the festive "Tumbling." The third track, "Come out and Play," serves as the almost-title track, mixing choppy organ and sweet-sounding vocals, creating a playful sound reminiscent of the best of twee pop. The pace slows down with the fifth track, "Chocolate Milk," with acoustic guitar and a more sedate organ sound. On the seventh track, Majestic offers a serene cover of the Autocollants' song "Tennis Racket." They pay tribute to their southern California roots on the tenth track, "Malibu U." The 12th and final track, "Wake Up," serves as the second piece to the title track puzzle, orchestrating multiple voices behind Schultz's lead vocals. With 13 musicians performing on Wake up, Come out and Play, Majestic proves that a supergroup can be a family affair, with three groups of siblings serving as members of the band this time around. ~ Stephen Cramer, All Music Guide