AMG Review of Real Feel

Stephen Thomas Erlewine
All Music Guide

A decade after Pavement's last album -- and directly in the wake of their announced 2010 reunion -- Scott Kannberg finally releases his first album under his Spiral Stairs' moniker with Real Feel. Not too far removed from either Preston School of Industry album, Real Feel slightly emphasizes a California pop vibe, using these vague Beach Boys aspirations and Kannberg's patented, rippling indie pop as punctuation to a bunch of pleasantly lazy, ambling country-rock. Spiral Stairs remains a pleasing singer/songwriter and Real Feel rambles on nicely.