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ivan@stellysee.de
| From | Not Lame <popmusic@notlame.com> |
| Subject | Swimming Pool Q's |
| Date | Thu, 03 Jul 2003 09:12:48 -0600 |
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> I've been listening to the new CD by The Swimming Pool Q's, called Royal
> Academy Of Reality. It's one of the most compelling discs I've heard so far
> this year, and very difficult for me to succintly describe. Some of its 20
> (!) songs remind me of, of all things, Bob Welch-penned/sung Fleetwood Mac
> tunes, others remind me of the current band Epicycle, some are psychedelic,
> some are vaguely Beatlesque, some are funky, etc, etc, etc..and it's all
> good!
David, could not agree more........this one blew me away. Never dug the
original band much, so did not think much of this reunion. What was the
point, anyway?
Well, evidently, a big point. Totally different sound, just some amazing
musicians getting better as they get older, wiser, more experienced. You
put it well......i'll add this w/ what I wrote on the Not Lame web
site......for folks who remember the band fondly or not-so-fondly......check
out without prejudice:
(there's 3 soundbites up there, too...but of course can do not justice as
their songs take their sweet time expanding and locking into their
heights..)
"It's been 15 years since they released a record----and that's a long time.
But man was this one worth it! While I never cared much for the original
band, this version is really something else! Reality sounds like nothing the
Q's have recorded beforeŠ This is a dense, spiritual, satisfying gumbo with
loads of chunky, delicately seasoned bits to be found in the Technicolor
trippy broth. If Alice had an accompanying soundtrack in her Discman when
she fell down that rabbit hole, this would be it. Sonically resembles what
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band(refrains of "Rain" and "Tomorrow Never
Knows" show up on a few songs here) and Pet Sounds might have sounded like
if the Beatles and the Beach Boys had joined forces and had the luxury of a
decade to record --- and the advanced technology the Q's employ here. Unlike
most of the disposable pop records issued in today's market, repeat
listenings of Reality yield countless new pleasures. here's Calder's ironic,
smart, funny lyrical insights along with ear candy pellets of glass harps,
sitars, vibraphones and Appalachian dulcimers sprinkled throughout the
recording. Augmented by a group of more than 24 musicians including Brendan
O'Brien (Springsteen producer), Mo Tucker (The VU), Tom Gray (The Brains)
and Samruai Celestial (Sun Ra), The Q's have kept much of their signature
guitar sound and pop eccentricities while adding a poetic and atmospheric
beauty. Here's a VERY good reason why it makes sense for old bands to get
back together. "
Peace,
Bruce @ Not Lame
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