I love the 80's as much as the next guy, but am I the only one who thinks the joke is getting a little old? Sure, it was a funny decade... sure, the fashions were ridiculous... sure, I remember Rubik's Cubes--but could everybody please quit trying to cash in on the poor era? God bless bands like The Ocean Blue. These guys have actually been around since the 80's and that being the case, they would have every right to stay frozen in its musical landscape, but they refuse to settle for cheap, marketable pulp. Waterworks is the product of a constantly evolving band with the wisdom to know when enough is enough and the talent for concise songwriting that only comes with age.
"Fast Forward Reverse" opens this meaty EP with some nice sweeping strings and ambient twinkles--a seemingly awkward tone-setter for such an upbeat pop album. After the same serene harmonics begin seeping their way into the hypnotic "Pedestrian" and the Velvet Underground-reminiscent "Golden Gate" however, it becomes clear that The Ocean Blue put just as much focus on their sounds as they do their songs. This album is definitely worth busting out the headphones for.
"Ticket to Wyoming" is a catchy, summertime ditty with a strong Morrissey influence. "Sunshower" is another Smiths-y jam with a peppier guitar lead and more danceable beat. The synth drums, hand claps and doot doot doo's of "The Northern Jetstream" close the album on a hopeful note, without ever venturing into sappy territory. This song is so mesmerizing that it could literally be twenty minutes longer and you might not even notice a change.
My hat's off to The Ocean Blue for writing some of the best songs of their career after almost twenty years on the job.
3.5/4
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2004Reviewed by Andrew West GriffinIt was late 1989 and my good friend Fletcher popped a tape in his car stereo. We were cruising down a boulevard in Wichita, Kansas and surprisingly, the music fit the mood. Outside it was cold, icy, and pure. The music pumping through the speakers even had a song called "Frigid Winter Days," interestingly enough. I liked what I was hearing. As for the rest of the songs, they were moody,…Similar sounding releases
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