One of the most beloved indie bands of our era, their early singles created the template that other bands and entire labels (like K) would take for their own.
Although Go! does not quite capture the original vitality and rawness of the band’s sound, what it does is give us some incredibly sweet, catchy pop songs.
Thriller removes the assembly-line slickness and cloying corn that have worn this most American of musics down to a palatable gruel. Modest, sincere, poetic.
A full-on adolescent-cinematic sound that enthralls and seduces while it plays but falls apart completely once analyzed. Not, in and of itself, a bad thing.
Full of folky strums, fragile vocals, and a fleet-fingered sense of construction that seems almost too casual until you realize how well it holds together.
Artie’s shrink oughtta remind him once in a while that he’s a rich fuckin’ rock star and maybe he should please shut the fuck up and get fat or something.