Sweetness - Ashtray Floors

This charming band comes to our shores way of Japan's Quince Records, but Sweetness hail from California. The quartet took a lot of time with their garage-y, bossa-nova-y, fuzzy country-ish boogie-woogie mish mash songs. The results sound like a blend like of Heavenly, the Cardigans, the Smiths, the Replacements, Joao Gilberto and Motown. It's worth mentioning, though, that lead singer, Marie, is closer to Fairground Attraction's Eddy Reader than to the Cardigans' Nina. "Ashtray Floors" was originally released on the band's own label in 2005. This Japanese edition is remastered and features new artwork and a bonus track.