Pure Pop
anotherstupidkid | Havertown, PA United States | 08/27/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Baxendale makes pure pop music that is unapologetically sugary-sweet. Lead singer and songwriter Tim Benton's lyrics and delivery coax you into a beautiful world of extended childhood where you may find yourself falling in love with a girl as the both of you play video games ("Neato") or fret when she smooches another guy ("oh baby, baby please / don't smooch in front of me" - "Don't Smooch"). When Tim isn't singing, Senay Sargut takes the mic to fret about cute boys ("You Know the Rules") and technology ("The future..."). The music itself is not, for the most part, stuff we haven't heard before; synth-pop that bounces and makes you feel like doing the same. But you will find few groups who are able to make the formula so endearing. There are, of course, times when it seems that the trio go a little too far out of their way to insert a hook and other times when the whimsical lyrics stumble uncomfortably close to just plain dumb. "You will have your revenge" doesn't play as an album. It isn't hard to tell that this release is a conglomeration of previously released material and is, as a result, a little uneven. A few songs lose their appeal after the first few listens, but the great songs -and there are quite a few- will stay with you for a long time to come. The US release also includes four bonus tracks that weren't on the European version. Three of them are the best tracks of the album. If you're a fan of pop music in the vein of Pet Shop Boys, Pulp or A-ha, this disc is a must for your collection. It'll make you feel like a kid again."
...and a sweet revenge that is!
07/29/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"this disc is POP with big capital letters. These songs are sharply written with a good dose of humour. the music sounds like saint ettienne on a trip with bis remixing the pet shop boys, but has an edge that makes these people original. the pop don't stop!"
Track Listings (16) - Disc #1