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Shiner - Making Love E.P.

Smog - Knock Knock

Soft Boys - Underwater Moonlight...

Souled American - Around the...

Spaceheads - Angel Station

Alexander Spence - Oar

Starlight Mints - The Dream That...

13th Floor Elevators - His Eye Is...

Trans Am - You Can Always Get...

Utah Carol - Wonder Wheel

Artists V-Z

ALBUM REVIEWS

Pick of the Chick: Our Favorite Releases, 1999-Present

THE STARLIGHT MINTS
THE DREAM THAT STUFF WAS MADE OF
SEETHRU BROADCASTING

Many bands are churning out pop punk these days, but few do it well enough to stand out.  The Starlight Mints are an exception--picture the Pixies with a string section, a spoonful of sugar, and a hit of acid.  On tracks like "The Bandit" and "Sir Prize," the band combines psychedelic "bah-bah-bah" backing vocals with the sweetest pop hooks.  The Starlight Mints are one of the edgiest bands currently dabbling in psychedelic-pop-revival.  For example, the distorted backing vocals by Marion Love Nunez on "Submarine #3" bring to mind Kim Deal's work with the Pixies and the Breeders.  Pounding drums and guitar on tracks like "Valerie Flames," as well as lead singer Allan Vest's punky vocal delivery, also give the album a bit of a sharper edge.  These edgy elements accentuate the songs by tempering the "sugar sweetness," and take the band's music to a place that other psychedelic-pop revivalists haven't reached yet.

PIGEONHOLE: Sounds like the Pixies with a string section, a spoonful of sugar, and a hit of acid.
CAVEATS: Although the album has some edgier elements, the "sugar sweet"  pop that emanates from most of these songs could turn the stomachs of die-hard punks.

Andrew Helminger

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