All I knew about Son, Ambulance before this CD showed up was that they were on Saddle Creek and therefore probably listed Bright Eyes as one of their major influences. Then I did some digging and found out that indeed Joe Knapp, the songwriting brains behind Son, Ambulance, not only is influenced by Conor Oberst, but he used to live with him. So accordingly, this album could very well say Bright Eyes on the cover and only the most indie of nerds would notice.

Of course, I like Bright Eyes, and when it’s a good cry you need to get the hurt out, this is some pretty alright stuff. Also, Knapp does have a slightly different songwriting style, with more pop influence. His lyrics are less central to the album; instead, it relies on a variety of instruments, such as a saxophone and the moog, to create melodies that are reminiscent of Elvis Costello and other songwriters from the school of pop. While that might not be in pure Bright Eyes style, Knapp’s voice…well, that’s pretty much the same as good old Conor. Overall, though, Key is a solid album all the way through and should make the Omaha indie scene proud.