Search - Absentee :: Schmotime

Over in leftfield, it's Absentee!

Peter L. Knutson | New York, NY | 10/30/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I'm primarily reviewing this on the strength of one track "Getaway" which is capturing all my attention right now.



Off Memphis Industries (the label of the Go Team! and the Pipettes), Absentee seems to come more from the era of those delightful independent bands that emerged in the wake of Pavement. Just a little sloppy, remarkably tuneful; the comparisons to Tindersticks or the Pastels are apt but I would also include some of those great New Zealand bands like the Dentists or the 3D's, and underappreciated U.S. bands like The Mendoza Line (specifically the off kilter, sloppy pop music on _We're all In This Together_).



This is absolutely 2 guitar, bass, and drums pop. But its pretty, delightful, shambling... and it's not uber-fashionable Gang of Four/Josef K retread, which seems to be all we get nowadays. That might be as good a reason as any to give a listen.



-peter"

Joyous depression

Hankford | Sydney | 04/20/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"
'Oh darlin'/ You're no oil painting / and I'm no Michaelangelo...' So starts the glorious 'We Should Never Have Children', a dark and funny rock-country powerforce sung with a voice dipped in whiskey and cigarettes. Other standout tracks are 'You Try Sober' with it's sweet backing vocals over that crunchy voice (Why don't you try sober/ if you're so sure about it...), and the alt country rock of 'There's A Body In The Car Somewhere'. And 'Something To Bang' has single written all over it. This album comes off as a Nick Cave meets Royal City meets Arctic Monkeys with a little Tom Waits at his whiskey best. Bright horns and keyboards and sweet melodies stop this album of dead-end relationships and self destruction from becoming grim. It was a surprise discovery and a continual joy. Oh, and great cover art, too."