Lois
"Shy Town" CD-EP
K. KLP-037.
by Scott Zimmerman.
December 31, 1995.
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Out of Stock.
The breathy version of "Page Two" on "The Trouble With Me" 7" seems so
greatly superior to the new version placed on this EP. The 7" version has
a
brilliant contrast in moods that this new homogeneous version sadly lacks.
That is my primary source of disappointment with this record, but
admittedly, even the new recording is quite good 'cause hey, it is still
by Lois! Like the other tracks, "Page Two" is pretty, somber and jangly.
In tone, it feels like the musical average of the record--not quite as
catchy and upbeat as "Shy Town" or "Hey! Antoinette," but more energetic
than the leisurely "Grass Widow" and "St. What's-Her-Name."
the 6ths
Wasps' Nests CD
London.
by Melanie Cardenas.
December 31, 1995.
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Indie pop galore--an all-star album. Stephin Merritt of
Magnetic Fields fame
operates here as the 6ths songwriter and producer. He
invited various singers to sing his songs of loneliness, love and
lust. Amelia Fletcher,
Mary Timony, Chris Knox, Mark Robinson, and Lou
Barlow are just a few of the several singers included on the roster.
The album opens with the light and poppy "San Diego Zoo" sung by the San Francisco Seals' Barbara Manning. There are fifteen songs total on this LP, and it was hard to choose the best song.
I have many favourites and one of them is "Falling Out of Love (With You)." In this melodious pop song, Luna's Dean Wareham is the guest performer. Another favourite is the upbeat "You Can't Break a Broken Heart" sung by Jeffrey Underhill of Velvet Crush. This song starts off with a swift beat (that instantly reminded me of a Blondie song) backing up the vocals.
The musical wizard, Stephin Merritt himself, sings on the second track called "Aging Spinsters". He says, "you should find someone/as loyal as a dog/who will still love you/when you look like a frog." This is a delightful and amazing album. Mr. Merritt displayed his amazing songwriting and electronic genius. It's definitely worth getting!
Various Artists
Summer Games 7" vinyl
Lookout. LK-129.
by Scott Zimmerman.
December 31, 1995.
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The Summer Games split 7" pairs two of today's best west coast
retro-surf-pop-punk acts on a record put out by two of the west
coast's best labels -- Mint and Lookout!
The Smugglers, from Vancouver BC, get the A-side, which contains the enjoyable "She Ain't No Egyptian," and "Elite Manila," a simply great rock & roll song.
"Meet the Hi-Fives," a mostly instrumental piece, initiates the flip-side. It's sort of an intro/theme song for the Hi-Fives, a group from the San Francisco Bay Area. The song is terrificly good--much better than, say, the theme song for Friends.
Track two "I Need Your Lovin' Like A Chicken Needs an Oven (When I'm A Little Bit Hungry)" is mostly cool for its miles long title. The music's good and all, too, but perhaps a bit too straightforward. Or maybe the song fails to impress me because the chorus is such a stupid thing to sing! But hey, if the group is brave enough to sing it, more power to them!
the Genes
A Smile Will Do CD-EP
Rubber. Rub 041.
by Scott Zimmerman.
December 31, 1995.
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Out of Stock.
"She's a-walkin' down my street, she's a-lookin' pretty good." I
think that is a sadly daft line to begin a song, but "A Smile
Will Do" quickly rights itself with loads of pop positivity.
It's the first song on this 4 song EP by the Genes, a record
of upbeat acoustic guitar pop accompanied by bitter-sweet
semi-sensitive male vocals. Track Two "Best Girl In Town" is
even better--light and fantastic. It moves along
splendidly with keen hand claps and an airy chorus. "If Only I
Had Your Number" follows. It's also quite enjoyable, and
comforting with its straightforward arrangement. "Rubberneckin'", my
least favorite song, is last. It's cheesy and 1970's
sounding--two qualitites which in the case of this song are not
very favorable. With it's Sesame Street-esque "Stop, Look, and
Listen" advice, the song makes me chuckle a bit, but maybe that
is the point?
Blueboy
"Dirty Mags" 7" vinyl
Sarah. Sarah 099.
by Aurore Bacmann.
December 31, 1995.
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Of Blueboy, we had kept the image which their first LP If Wishes Were
Horses had printed in our minds -- bright guitars accompanied by a
cello and shy singing -- the perfect picture of wet, grey days on cold
beaches. In this view, their new 7" single, the last single to be ever
released by Sarah Records, might be quite a surprise. The first two
songs of the ep are more agressive than usual, which the lovers of
tense, restless indie pop should certainly enjoy. The main reproach
that could be made is that the originality of Blueboy is a bit drowned
in the conventional noisy-pop sound that you are bound to hear if you
just switch on your radio, and the songs do not ascend as high as
tracks like the marvellous "Johnny Rave." However, "Toulouse," last on the
ep, is an acoustic song with a flute and cello in the style at which
Blueboy excel. And it's also a beautiful way of ending the eight years
of the fabulous Sarah adventure.
Raymond Brake
"New Wave Dream" 7" vinyl
Simple Machines.
by Gary Miller.
December 31, 1995.
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Out of Stock.
This Simple Machines seven-incher is the second release (as far as I can
tell) from The Raymond Brake. This young, four-piece band from
Greensboro,
NC has a more traditional "Chapel Hill" sound than most bands actually
living
there. That, however, is not meant to say their brand of noisy-pop is
derivative.
"New Wave Dream" is quintessential T.R.B. material with its on-the-verge-of-being-out-of-tune guitars, jumpy feel, and melodic vocals. The b-side is a more straight-forward poppy number called "Secret."
While it still doesn't move me as much as their live show, this release is tons better than their first 7" (on D-tox). This can be traced to the newer release's better production and higher energy levels. I'm looking forward to the Simple Machines-released full-length due later this fall.