Drugstore

Item: Songs for the Jet Set
Author: BW Diederich

Songs for the Jet Set

(2001)

Reviewed by BW Diederich

Discogs Apple Music TIDAL Amazon Music Spotify YouTube Music

Label The First Time RecordsDecapolisJune 2003

alternative country dream pop psychedelic rock

I'm working from a place of ignorance, plain and simple. I can tell you this, Drugstore are from England. They've released three full lengths and this record I'm currently staring at is a two cd set collecting the newest (2001) record Songs for the Jet Set and a singles/b-sides/live collection called Collector No. 1. The First Time Records is the record label to thank for all of this Drugstore.

So I'm almost positive I should really like this record. NME has and does adore them. Melody Maker made lovely comparisons and praised them without fault. The fact is though that this record makes no sense to me. I've listened to both discs straight through multiple times and then have listened to both discs in a rather more haphazard fashion, skipping and jumping, listening to this clip, that track, etc. I was hoping the more I heard the record the more I'd like it, or perhaps that I'd just be able to understand the lavish praise better. Alas my friends, that is not the case.

Drugstore plays a hazy, slightly psychedelic sort of music. At times it's alt-country, other times it's just pleasantly drifting, sad pop music. At no time though does it move me. That doesn't, however, mean that it shouldn't move you. The two comparison points I keep coming up with are Mazzy Star and Over the Rhine, but neither capture all aspects of the band and both work only for certain specific songs.

The most striking aspect of the sound is Isabel Monteiro's lovely, unique vocals. Think along the lines of Nico, not in terms of sound just in terms of overall effect. Isabel's voice is husky, expressive and in the end the only thing I really liked about the record. The lyrics never did anything for me, but there are a few moments on this record where Isabel's voice brings me closer to understanding the record.

I guess I should talk a bit about the difference between the two discs included here. Songs for the Jet Set is the full length from 2001 and it's chock full of alt-country-ish ballads and Isabel's smoky vocals. A member of Lambchop (Paul J. Niehaus) guests on one of the tracks and the pedal steel really does stick out, makes you sit up a bit and notice, a nice touch. The production is super nice, it fits the mood perfectly.

Collector Number One is a bunch of B-sides, demos, etc. The songs range from fully formed to haunting, ramshackle skeletons. It's interesting a bit to hear the progression of a song like "Wayward Daughter" from demo to full produced take, but to be honest, for me this was a bit much to take in. Two full cds of this band didn't do much for me.

I think a lot of people will love this band. Truly, I do. Isabel's vocals are smoky and gorgeous, surrounded by competently played and even interesting musical accompaniment. It's all a hazy and melancholy ride through alt-country and psychedelia. For whatever reason though, I just don't get it. But please, don't let that stop you from getting it. Especially if you're a fan of the two bands mentioned earlier.

B-