Artist: Drop Nineteens
Album: Mayfield Demos
Release: 1991
Label: Self-Released
Tracklist:
1. Mayfield
2. Shannon Waves
3. Astral
4. Kissing The Sea
5. Skylight
6. Snowbird
7. Pentatonic/Another Summer
8. Here Comes The Sun
9. Damon
10. Song for JJ
11. Back In Our Old Bed
12. Soapland
Drop Nineteens were an exercise in semi-mediocrity and total bandwagonism that managed to spawn some surprisingly excellent tunes. “Winona” is not only a hell of a fuzz-soaked single, but also a perfect three-odd minute encapsulation of the bright, summery pleasantness I feel a lot of my/our generation associates with the ‘90s. It’s really the only true high point of their 1992 debut Delaware, which is 120% indebted to Sonic Youth and the shoegaze and dream pop going on across the pond that would shortly be abandoned by the press in favor of grunge and Britpop. “Kick the Tragedy” isn’t bad for nearly nine minutes of two chords and a strange child’s monologue, and the Madonna cover “Angel” is pretty enjoyable for being straight cheese.
Then the typically turncoat UK music press decided shoegazer music was bullshit and that Seattle, along with pompously overblown pap like Oasis, was the future. Between this and the part where he lost half his band, Drop Nineteens mainguy Greg Ackell found three new members and dropped National Coma, which after listening to you wish you’d be in because it’s one of the most underwhelming records ever released. Imagine, if you will, Weezer’s Pinkerton, drained of any feeling of fun, mirth, nerdiness et al and you’re pretty close.
But I come here to praise Drop Nineteens, not to bury them. Ironically, their most sonically consistent recordings are their least original ones-- these Mayfield demos that got them signed. The eponymous opener sounds immediately like a Slowdive b-side. Then “Shannon Waves” sounds exactly like darn near any era of MBV, just with bongos. Then “Astral” returns to the Slowdiveyness. You get the picture. These songs are by and large quite fun, despite their obviously being so derivative. But in a way, this fact is reassuring, because if you’re into any of the big players in the genre, you’re almost guaranteed to dig.
And even if the two full-lengths aren’t really anything to write home about overall, one can always take comfort in the fact that throwing on “Winona” will make your life feel like an Adventures of Pete & Pete episode for three minutes.
Download Here
-Asa
8 comments:
Hey dude, I don't know if you've heard it, but in my opinion their best release is an EP called "Your Aquarium," which is based around "My Aquarium (Second Time Around)," a rocked-out version of the ballad "My Aquarium" from Delaware. It's 10 times the song that the original quiet ballad version is, which is made clear on the Caroline Records version of the EP, which has the album version at the end. That's the version of the EP you want, too, because it has the song "Movie" on it, which is an excellent ballad that's got everything "My Aquarium" lacks where that style is concerned. It's also got a pretty great cover of Barry Manilow's "Mandy," done in a similar style to the "Angel" cover, and a song called "Nausea" that at this point I remember nothing about. Oh well. Anyway, it's a really great EP, and while none of its songs are quite on a level with "Winona" (then again, what is?), it's well worth having.
I can't find a download link for it, but you can listen to all the songs except the "Mandy" cover on myspace, weirdly enough: http://www.myspace.com/drop_nineteens/music/albums/your-aquarium-ep-11866328
I'm actually thinking I should post that record. I enjoy the title track, but it basically just sounds like Weezer, intentionally or otherwise.
Appreciate the recommendation, though!
this is hands down my favorite drop nineteens material!
I accidentally downloaded this on Soulseek thinking it was an unreleased Curtis Mayfield album.
Yo, stop trying to walk all this Drop Nineteens shit back already. Either you were just fucking around or you weren't. Let it be real man.
u mad? I like them just fine. They're a band with a few highs, and a lot of mehs (IMO). That's all I was trying to get across with this post.
"Then the typically turncoat UK music press decided shoegazer music was bullshit and that Seattle, along with pompously overblown pap like Oasis, was the future" Amen, brother....Amen.
SO glad this was posted! the your aquarium EP is fantastic! a BARRY WHITE COVER.
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