When I first read Slowpoke’s online biography, I was intrigued
\nat their history. With two members majoring in film in college, I
\nexpected their debut release
\nVirgin Stripes<\/i> to be filled with some wonderfully bizarre
\nmusic that would befit a soundtrack to an art house film.<\/p>\n
Well, the music is surprisingly wonderful, but it’s hardly the
\nfreak-out I expected. Dave Gibson and crew bang out twelve numbers
\nthat is sloppily fresh, and have created an effort which bodes well
\nfor this four-piece.<\/p>\n
At times, the energy of vocalist\/guitarist Gibson, guitarist
\nBrent Dunham, bassist Corbett Guest and then-drummer Damien Stewart
\n(who has since been replaced by Jerry Saracini) reminds me of Pearl
\nJam; there is a devil-may-care attitude about the whole project. At
\nother times, the obscureness of the music brings to mind XTC. All
\nin all, not a bad combination and connection to make.<\/p>\n
But as much as Slowpoke draws on an artsy background, they don’t
\nforget the plight of the common person and the stuggles we all face
\nfrom day to day. “Dirty Hands,” a surprisingly gentle number,
\nrelates to starting relationships and the nervousness we all face
\ntrying to make that good first impression, while “I Can’t See You
\nAnymore” illustrates a couple sweeping together the mess that once
\nwas their relationship.<\/p>\n
But not everything on
\nVirgin Stripes<\/i> deals with male-female issues. Some of it is
\nbeyond a simple explanation in a printed review, such as the
\nbizarre “go team go” spirit of “Hey! Alma Mater” and the powerfully
\nsoft messages in songs like “Belladonna” and “Before The
\nFight”.<\/p>\n
And while Slowpoke have a little difficulty holding the whole
\nball of wax together, especially in the middle portion of the
\nalbum,
\nVirgin Stripes<\/i> succeeds on sheer moxie – I can’t think of
\nany band that would be willing to take musical chances and try to
\nresurrect the alternative sound that these four musicians do. It’s
\nnot always perfect, but it’s by no means bad – it’s just that one
\noccasionally looks for a little more structure to keep one’s head
\nfocused.<\/p>\n
Thanks to production work from Wally Gagel and mixing by Tom and
\nChris Lord-Alge (who could be some of the most unsung heroes in the
\nmusic industry),
\nVirgin Stripes<\/i> has a sound that is crisp throughout, and
\ncould very well be one of the albums that rescues the floundering
\nalternative scene from a sea of mediocrity.<\/p>\n
Slowpoke do a respectable job on their debut release, and with a
\nlittle tighter songwriting (which only comes with time), they could
\nvery well be the next big thing the scene has been anticipating.
\nBut for now,
\nVirgin Stripes<\/i> is a damn fine start.<\/p>\n
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