Search - Various Artists :: Parasol's Sweet Sixteen, Vol. 4

They're Back (Kinda)

Jenn | Northern California | 10/28/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I have to say, I was really looking forward to this release. The Lassie's last full CD was the wonderful "Pacifico", which sounded like the pre-"Pet Sounds" Beach Boys would have if they were a Christian-based Shoegazer band. (Huh???) When they are at their best, Lassie Foundation are all head spinning fuzz and feedback, discordant guitars played against wonderful melodies all delivered with gusto with the ubiquitous (and at times very silly sounding) high falsetto vocals.
All of those elements are present on "The El Dorado L.P" and, as such, if you were a fan of the last album this one is at least worthy of giving a listen. Songs like "Every Line Has Let You Inside of Me" and "The Battle of Vernon" are noisy little pop masterpieces. "Let Your Boy Come Back" is breezy horn and guitars pop that is not unlike what you you would expect from fellow west coasters Belulah (although lacking in anything resembling the irony and sarcasm of that band.) "You Can't Deny a Broken Heart is just great pop, a charming pastiche of Swervedriver and Merseybeat.
Sadly though there are problems for the Foundation on this outing. For one, Wayne Everett's singing is a lot more self-concious and precious on this album. Lyrics were never a strong point for this band (most of the singing on "Pacifico" is virtually unintelligble) so hearing Everett sing a line like "Calling out across the room / Can you take the brand new beat?" as if it were anything but cheesy is embarrassing to listen to.
Also, some of these songs get annoying really fast. "Powersurge" is just a really bad rewrite of Devo's "Whip It". Even the cool instrumental noise break in the song fails to save it from its sins. The infantile vocals on "Hero" upon hearing once become "endurance listening" after that.
Still one can not hope for anything but the best for this band. They have produced a lot of great music that has gone largely unheard in the indie circles and have faced a lot of resistance for their involvement in the Christian-Rock scene from the mega-hip. (Even I have been guilty of this I must confess and I am not even hip!) Currently the individual members are involved in new bands and projects and the future of Lassie Foundation is questionable at best. I am sure one way or the other we will hear more from them again."