Aberdeen
"Byron" 7"
Sarah. Sarah 093.
by Scott Zimmerman.
December 31, 1994.
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"Byron" is the Sarah records debut for Aberdeen, a lovely sounding
three-piece from Southern California. The title track sounds amazingly
similar to what the Ocean Blue would be like if they had a female
vocalist. And though the other two tracks do not remind me so much of the
Ocean Blue, they are still glorious, and are indeed fitting accompanient
to chocolate devouring, which of course is one of the most befitting
activities to engage in while listening to that wonderous Hershey, PA
band, who not-so-curiously, Aberdeen thanked on this record's credits.
Aberdeen
"Snapdragon" 7" vinyl
Sunday. Sunday 035.
by Scott Zimmerman.
December 31, 1995.
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If you're looking for light and flowerly non-abrasive female vocaled
atmospheric music, these two tracks provide that throughout, but
if you're looking for engaging pop, you had better listen beyond
the opening couple of minutes because it's not until each song's
finish that you'll catch the full musical experience.
The spirited jangling of the last minute of "Snapdragon" is what makes that song finally take off.
The flip-side "I think I'm falling" isn't particularly notable until towards the wrap up when that title lyric finally emerges and snugly grabs hold. It's here when you realize "Gee, what a nice little song! Not quite a rock anthem, but who needs those anyways?"
And if you are looking for hot and sweaty rock and roll, try elsewhere!
Acid House Kings
Mondays Are Like Tuesdays And Tuesdays Are Like Wednesdays CD
Hidden Agenda. AHA! 038.
by Keith Mclachlan.
April 28, 2002.
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Imagine if Le Pen wins, would this mean that Alec
Baldwin would have to alter his plans of flight from
the oppressive Bush regime to France and instead hop
on the next plane to Stockholm instead? How
frighteneing for his fellow passengers as likely for
the duration of the 11 hour flight from LA Alec would
bleat endlessly about how it was the 2000 election
that was the most tragic event in recent history maybe
in the history of the world ever not some silly event
where 3000 people died because of a madman who marries
his buddies granddaughter. No the real threat to
Amerikkka is the possibility that funds for head start
might be cut or that we won't have clean needle
exchanges in every junior high school by the time of
the next election. Once in Sweden though Alec would
get off the plane and after having a Kim Basinger
flashback upon seeing all the blonde babes in Sweden
and finishing a brief period of 'do you know who i am
and will you sleep with me' would immediately settle
in and attempt to discover the underground resistance
in Sweden hoping to establish his own political
credibility in hopes of running someday for a seat in
the Riksdag. He might find himself then at an Acid
House Kings (subversives at heart surely) show and
suitably impressed by their performance proceed to
follow them around for the rest of his life. He might
be in sessions for their next album as executive
producer, he would say things like 'hey you know how
on your last album you had that number that sounded a
bit like the Kings of Convenience? yeah I loved it
too, but what if this time instead of writing about
some bimbo like you normally do what if instead you
decried the supreme court's conservative majority,
maybe adding a line about how Antonin Scalia has hair
on his back' or 'Hey that song that sounded a bit
Lightning Seeds was fab, I love the Seeds, but what if
its successor was about Neil Bush's failed Savings and
Loan instead? and the girl who sings in your band is
she really necessary? I think we need someone with a
bit more anger sure she sounds all lovely and pristine
and effete, but we need some balls, no offence babe,
we need someone who would be willing to stand up for
Mumia and spit in the face of the jack booted thugs
from the ATF come to silence us here in Sweden. Have
you ever spit in a thugs face sweetie? Didn't think
so.' At this point one of the handsome AHKs would ask
Alec to leave and they would record another album just
like this one with perfect harmonies, with some
moments that remind of the Sundays and others that
remind of other perfect pop groups and then they would
release it and Alec Baldwin would claim it was a
government strongarm position the Bush administration
shutting down the rebel AHKs before they could
speak/sing the truth. Criminal!
Adventures In Stereo
Adventures In Stereo CD
Marina. MA 24.
by Keith Mclachlan.
February 2, 1997.
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I have seen schizophrenic reactions to this album, dripping praise for
its melding of Stereolab cha-cha-chas with Beach Boys melodicism and
damning spite for its lack of originality and overtly sweet
tendencies. Well I will tell you if you don't love this record then
you must really hate ice cream, and puppy dogs and all other things
that bring universal smiles. Jim Beattie, ex-Spirea X'er and
ex-Primal Screamer has crafted a grand tribute to Phil Spector here, a
clutch of 18 radio-friendly short pop ditties, well, radio-friendly
back when radio stations had taste, that remind me of the Crystals,
The Ronettes, Supremes, all of the great girl groups from the early to
mid 60's. Maybe the singer is not quite up to those standards but she
sings like she has a heart of gold, truly charming beyond description.
Adventures In Stereo
Alternative Stereo Sounds CD
Marina. MA 38.
by Keith McLachlan.
August 9, 1998.
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As much as I would love to star in
another round of controversy between the participants in the AIS soap
opera, I think perhaps I will leave my idealogical and political
commentary within the realm of my small social circle (which consists of
myself and my dog). So I will try something novel and simply discuss the
music on display here.
"All songs composed, arranged, written and produced by James Beattie" is clearly stamped in two places on my cd. Obviously he is trying to make sure the distractions of the past are not repeated and I think perhaps he has emboldened his presence because he has right to be very proud of what he has produced here.
At first I was slightly distressed that the intimacy of the melodies on the blue lp had been replaced with the more conventional rock'n'roll band sound but I quickly overcame that initial disappointment especially when song 4 titled 'I Once Knew' shows up as the perfect combination of Brian Wilson pop heroics and Phil Spector 'wall of sound' production. Everything here is deeply rooted in the early 60s mindset but is competent enough to stand up as a worthy effort of colleagues rather than a tribute record. Judith Boyle's voice is striking in its clarity - even while she is singing less than inspired lyrics she seems to hang every note snugly on the pop hooks provided by Jim.
18 songs here and most are less than 2 minutes in duration but I am beginning to believe this is optimal; eliminate the buildup and simply capture the listener's heart right from the start and when they are hooked throw them another bit of ear candy to get them hopelessly addicted. Simply fantastic.
Adventures In Stereo
Monomania CD
Bobsled. Bob-11.
by Keith McLachlan.
May 27, 2000.
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The first song has to be a Brian Wilson outtake, well it would be, of
course, were Brian a chick. Strange this because I had read that Bri was
shelved as the influence by Jim Beattie for he had moved on to Scott
Walker and his baroque brand of pop bubbelgummery. But with every listen
of this album that bit of information becomes more and more erroneous.
'Monomania' again demonstrates the fact that Adventures in Stereo are not the most diverse band in the pop world as it treads no new musical territory. As usual, a catchy simple riff is repeated endlessly through a song, a clever and hopelessly obscure sample is looped as well and then Judy's voice is layered several times over top until you have instant gratification in the form of a pop song. This is not difficult music, the best pop music never is. It is somewhat formulaic and Judy's voice is used less as a tool of communication and more as a speculative force of instrumentation. She lacks range but if you concentrate less on what she says and how the arrangement of vocals makes you forget the empty sentiments, and the structure carries you to wherever Jim and Judy want you to appear whether it be the beach, snow covered hills, outer space or through those crystal spheres into the unknown ether until your mind is composed of strings and your heart drowned as if you were a 12 year old who has inhaled far too much deer mice fece dust while cleaning farmhouses in Arizona. Like hanta virus the AIS brand of pop magicality is not always fatal. It is as catchy as the flu though and filled with moments that you swear you can locate easily from your dozens of history courses on pop's classic moments but moments always elusive enough to slip beneath your pop radar.
Primal Scream have now gone death metal. Jim Beattie used to be in Primal Scream. This is probably as far as you can get from death metal but really not all that different from 'Sonic Flower Groove' so the question is whether Bobby G was a fraud back then or is he a fraud now? Jim seems to have been continually in pursuit of pop greatness and his earnestness results in another perfectly pristine album.