Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 08/23/2005
Every five years or so, some Philadelphia-based band makes one killer
psych-pop album. First there was
the Original Sins'
Move, followed by
the Lilys'
Better Can't Make Your Life Better, followed by
the Asteroid No. 4's
King Richard's Collectibles. Like clockwork, about a half-decade after the last of those, here's the debut from Philly's
the Get Quick, and it might be the best of the lot. The opening
"Live Without It" makes the album's sonic antecedents clear, with a vocal harmony line and main guitar riff eerily similar to
the Flamin' Groovies'
"Yes It's True," itself a near-rewrite of various
Searchers and
Beau Brummels hits. Following that is the
new wave grind of
"New Plimsoles," with its killer snot-
rock distorted guitar riff and squealing sax interjections. The rest of the album flits between those two styles, jangly
Beatlesque power pop, and a noisier, heavier brand of art-psych
freakbeat. Thanks to the trio's arranging skills (violins and organ regularly join those saxes, which enliven enough of the songs that they should invite guest reedsman
David Fishkin to join the band full time) and singer/guitarist
Erik Evol's songwriting chops, the combination makes for an incredibly entertaining listen. Particular highlights include the jittery
"Blaue Reiter" (
Evol's tribute to the German post-impressionists) and
"Happy," a driving, anthemic song that makes an uncredited encore at the album's end. Every song on
How the Story Goes is a winner, and the album as a whole is one of the most entertaining underground
pop releases of 2005.
~Stewart Mason, All Music Guide