Labels: Domino
Review by: Andy Malcolm
Look, what’s going on here – my Dad buys a new CD, and I haven’t heard of it. This is not good, I’m worried. He just says “Oh, I liked the description in the record shop”. This is not how sensible, middle aged people like my father should buy their records, they should hear the latest Corrs single on Radio Bland, then make the selection. Random record purchase is the domain of daring, young, foolish children like me! I am being usurped! So I’m puzzlin’ away, and I go and hunt about for some info. It’s a while later that I find out that they have Janet Weiss from Sleater Kinney doing stuff, and Elliott Smith guesting some bass. And I’m puzzlin’ some more. What on earth is my Dad doing with a record which some of the great American indie rock luminaries play on? Anyway, I confronted him with the above facts and he denies any knowledge of either Smith or the Kinney. Hmmm. Here’s a review.
Well, I can see why my Dad likes it, it’s got those hints of the pop and rock music that he was listening to whilst growing up. Beatlesy in a couple of places, aye, the way Fountains of Wayne are, except I presume these guys have a whole wheelbarrow load more underground indie cred than the Wayne. Opening track “All the Same” has Smith doing the bass, there’s a squidgy guitar sound, a bit of keyboards, and some lush, warm strings to give it that full flavour. Other times, like the slow burning, piano laden “The Golden Egg” bring Built to Spill to mind, particularly in the vocals. Actually, a couple of the songs are even produced by the same guy who did “Keep It Like A Secret”.
There are one or two wacked songs, “The Skeleton” is boy+girl harmonisation over a strange organ sound. A little oddball, but nice enough. And there’s the completely out of place, “It Don’t Mean Nothing” which sounds like one of Superchunks punky songs has been recorded in my wardrobe. Still, for the most part, Quasi is pure and simple, albeit quirky, wandering to mid paced pop music, just like how I want it. Super pleasant and made for slow, grey Autumn afternoons like today. It’s not the most upbeat of albums, but it has had this strange effect on myself. I was bummed out totally with the way things were going about 2.07pm this afternoon, but this record has kind of resurrected it all for a while. *sigh*
Well, I don’t really claim to know the first thing about the good ole rock that is indie, I like the ‘Chunk and the ‘Spill and a few others that aren’t so popular. But this fits well into the realms of music I can listen to quite easily. So good on my Dad for expanding my musical boundaries, and with a record that came out in 1999 too. Who’da thunk it. I think I’ll force him to buy one new record a week, so what else he can come up with.