Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 03/19/1991
Run Time: 35:09
The La's were one of the few English alternative groups to keep traditional British
guitar pop alive during the late '80s and early '90s. Drawing heavily from the punchy
British Invasion sound of early
Beatles,
the Hollies,
the Searchers, and
the Small Faces, the group's eponymous debut is a swirling array of ringing guitar hooks and strong, undeniable
pop melodies. Throughout the record, chief songwriter
Lee Mavers turns out small, well-crafted gems, highlighted by the hit single
"There She Goes," whose jangling hooks and sighing melodies simply scratch the surface of the abundance of pleasures on the record. While
Mavers claimed at the time that the label forced him to release
The La's, it's hard to imagine the record being any more infectious. As it stands,
The La's was a refreshing slice of classicist
guitar pop at the time of its release, and its charms have not faded over the years.
~Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide