SHELLITO
Ingredients (Catharine Street)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson

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Mike Shellito and Jeff Tanner locked themselves away in a cabin in the woods of Blythewood, South Carolina with a bunch of instruments and recording equipment they hauled up there themselves. Four weeks of writing and recording, mostly by themselves but sometimes with Simon Nagle, Ken Finn and a few others, and then they were heading back to their hometown of Philly with a pop gem in a can. Every single second of Ingredients is exquisite, feel-good, smile and think "aaaah, clever" pop music. So beautiful it can bring tears to your eyes, it can have you drumming on your knees mere seconds later. There are several layers of guitars, adding a hint of psychedelia to the sweet pop that I fail to find comparisons for. I want to say it falls between Simon & Garfunkel and something jangly-poppy, but I can't put my finger on it. And so, dear readers, I'm stymied. And pleased. And going back in for another listen, fairly certain that I'll STILL be surprised by most of the unusual chord changes in this music. I do love surprises.

© 2002 - DJ Johnson