Search - Starlet :: Stay on My Side

Great balls of fire.........

chiang fu | nyc | 04/27/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"normally i don't write reviews, but i need to spread the word. when i first heard starlet, i was impressed by the succinctness and naturalness of their songs. i realize there will be comparison to belle and sebastian, the clientele, etc. i think that's unfair comparing artists to other artists. starlet could stand on their own merit. i think this album is right on the money. the verses to most of the songs stood by themselves as very melodic, pleasing and even simplistic in a great way. if discovered, this album will be a classic. if not, this will be a lost to all."

The facts from someone who knows them

Peter | Tumblebuns, Idaho | 06/20/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First off, Starlet sound NOTHING Like Belle & Sebastian. Stuart Murdoch sounds NOTHING like Jonas farm. If they are called similar because both write pop songs and use guitars, then it is a very narrow world we now exist in, or these "reviewers" need more exposure.That settled, this, their second LP (the first being "From the one You Left Behind" and also quite good, see Parasol.com) has been praised by many as the best LP of 2000 and I absolutely agree. Starlet associate themselves with the Swedish "Malmo" scene, one of their members also being in the excellent group Acid House Kings. (which has a member, Johan Angergard who is also in the equally brilliant Club 8) All of which reside in or near that town.Where Belle excells in the turned phrase and the coy imagery, these swedes tell it like it is. Songs of lost love, remorse, regret and tooling down california highways all come right from the heart. This is also probably the best (and proper) use acoustic guitars have been put to in a pop record in 30 years.This record will break your heart with it's warm humanity and dignity. It is stunningly beautiful. Buy it anywhere you can."

Sweetly derivative

veggiekhc | Secane, PA USA | 06/07/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Ok, so they sound A LOT like Belle & Sebastian. But how can you hold that against a band this endearing? They're Swedish, for crying out loud! The album contains a pleasant mix of upbeat twee-pop and midtempo melancholia, and there are also at least a couple of songs that I could also picture becoming mix tape classics-- "Scent of You", in particular. I would especially recommend this to people for whom "Tigermilk" is their favorite B&S album, as I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by both the similarities and the differences."