Talk about coy: the
Modern Skirts
' second album indicates no label, nor does it identify the bandmembers -- though the sketchy liner information does identify guest star producers
Mike Mills
(of
R.E.M.
) and
David Lowery
Camper Van Beethoven
and
Cracker
). In place of liner notes, the insert features a series of willfully strange watercolor paintings. If the band's music were similarly quirky and ambiguous, the album might be more annoying than engaging. But in fact, the
' brand of rock is so poppy and sweetly melodic that it borders, at times, on easy listening. Whether they mean it ironically or not, the inclusion of mellotrons, vibraphones, "dah-dah-dah" and "oooh-aaah" choruses, and at least one guitar solo that seems to be quoting from the
Willy Wonka
song
"Pure Imagination"
ends up feeling kind of kitschy, and while it's all quite enjoyable, you come away wondering how much of your enjoyment was actually arch amusement. Maybe it doesn't matter.
"Radio Breaks"
sounds like
Ben Folds
with better hooks;
"Eveready"
Fastball
with a softer center;
"Astronauts"
sounds like what the
Beatles
might have sounded like if they'd spent a week listening to
Jim Reeves
albums. All of it adds up to plenty of slightly self-conscious, but still genuine, pop fun. ~ Rick Anderson