The Pickets have an excellent ear for pop classics and translate them impeccably in the a cappella style, imparting their own unique spin. While some the arrangements remain on the whole true to the original versions, when the Pickets innovate, as they do on Neil Diamond's "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon," the results are even more impressive. "Southern Man" is transformed into a Jamaican reggae number; the only recognizable part is the refrain. The group has a particular knack for writing interesting countermelodies, that diverge and then resolve in unexpected ways. Their vocal approach is relaxed, never strained; the production, smooth and refined. Few groups handle contemporary material as well. |
