Search - Arlenes :: Stuck on Love

Don't miss this one!

03/25/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"At the music store recently I saw this CD and, having vaguely remembered hearing positive things about them somewhere, purchased it. Easily the best decision I made that day. Don't let the alt.country label affixed to this band turn you off. While the "twang quotient" is high, these are basically pop songs played with care and with a nod to late 60s/early 70s AM country radio. It all sounds effortless and should appeal to fans of rock, pop, C&W, and maybe even Britpop.You could describe this as honky tonk meets Brit Pop, as the home base for The Arlenes is London. The first 5 tracks are just gorgeous, especially the shoulda-been-a-hit 'Springboard', which sounds amazingly like Glen Campbell, right from "Big Steve" Arlene's boyish tenor to the acoustic guitars. 'Tell Someone That You Love Them' is another gem that casts a lovely country rock spell before trasforming into a chiming guitar, pedal steel hoe-down. 'Lonesome Won't Leave Me Alone' is a haunting lament of depression with Stephanie Arlene unleashing her powerful voice. Songs 6 thru 8 aren't bad, but don't really stand up to the magic that comes before. However, things pick up nicely with 'I Just Smoulder' which, as you might expect, does just that. "Everybody's Mind Gets Broke Sometimes' closes things out nicely. Each song has jangly, chiming guitars interwoven with steel guitar. Stephanie Arlene harmonizes on just about each track. Their voices wrap around each other comfortably. This was on the top of my Best of 2002 list. It's that good."