This is the third time ‘A Dozen Summits’ has been reviewed here, and I honestly don’t know as I can add much to what Andy said on the first two go-arounds: it’s a near-perfect slice of emo-pop that’s drenched in warm, fuzzy, poppy hooks and tinged with a wistful, Tove Jansson-esque sense of sadness.
Comparisons to the likes of Sebadoh, Superchunk and Dinosaur Jr. are all apt given the crackly edges and slightly ramshackle approach, but there’s an earnest, yearning quality here that sets Beezewax (and, thinking about it, their pals Flight Mode) apart. Basically, if you fire up opening track ‘The Snooze Is On’ and don’t immediately fall head over heels then you won’t like the rest of the album (and, if this is the case, then I both pity and fear you because you’re probably some sort of monster).
We’re almost 30 years on now, and the album still absolutely shines. Kudos to Boss Tuneage for getting the thing onto vinyl, and to the band for keeping on keeping on after all these years – go see ‘em live if you get the chance, because they’re still an absolute delight.