Labels: Integrity
Review by: Guy Baumann
An eponymously named single (i don’t think i have ever used the word eponymous in a sentence which hasn’t included the REM album, so at least something good has come out of this review). I used to listen to music like this when I grew out of my first punk phase and got all indie – unfortunately for MBA – i am now back into my second punk phase(see mom i didn’t grow out of it).
The A side (do CDs have A sides?) Miss Black America (this eponymous stuff is getting confusing) is Ash, Manics.. etc.etc., you get the drift – some of the guitar parts remind me of some indiepop band (you know like the shop assistants, poohsticks) – but it s a nice cheery, summery song which kind of got my foot tapping. I’m sure NME have probably recommended them as the next big thing after the Vines – so quite why they need the collective seal of abusiveness i am not sure. the other two tracks didn’t make my toes tap, but if you are interested they are called “look, Ma! Top of the World!” and “dogma”.
Other interesting facts -they come from Cambridge, they will never sign for a major(honest), they have supported Sigue Sigue Sputnik.
If you listen to Steve Lamacq and read the NME, you probably shouldn’t be reading Collective but you will probably like Miss Black America. I think I might put it on my summer compilation tape.