Another of the big-instrumentation folksy collectives that are permeating all over Adult Alternative radio right now. Magnetic Zeroneans doing countrified waltzes with indie-rock vocalists. Minimalist songwriters who, because they've invited extra friends to the party, get credited for being musical landscapists. Someone remembers that echo and reverb are important to create "texture".So what are the songs like? Pleasant, really. Unobtrusive and without anyone getting emotionally attached to anything. There's a song about a fish's perspective as it becomes lunch. Another one about those earworm songs. "Candy Store" has a fantastic riff straight out of Duane Eddy's songbook. BUT... it's about babies picking shit out in a candy store. Nothing coy nor clever.
Sometimes the pare it down to a minimum of garage rockers, not unlike the Jayhawks, but the sound basically still remains the same. I'm left without the excitement of a garage party. "Ramble Jamble" gives us some fun sixties Hullabaloo romping; but it's too little and too late for this collection. (2 of 5 stars)
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