 |
SPIV
Don'tcha Know (Pop Sweatshop)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson
A while back I reviewed a 4-song EP by Spiv called Everybody's A Rock Star Tonight, which I fell in love with instantly. The title track, in particular, was stuck in my head for weeks, and I still find myself singing it quietly to myself from time to time. Pretty catchy melody, nice pop guitar music surrounding it. Like all EPs one falls in love with, the problem was that it was too short and it left me wanting more, and waiting for quite a while, actually, but the wait for a full-length is finally over. Okay, calling Don'tcha Know a "full-length" may raise a few eyebrows, as 37 minutes is short by today's standards, and, in fact, the four songs from the EP are here as well, so there are just six new songs. Sigh. Oh well, hey, this is the penny-pincher in me talking. The judge of quality has arrived now to take his place.
Don'tcha Know is a terrific little power pop album. It's not particularly jangly, but more along the lines of driving and splashy, sometimes even quirky, as in "Goddess Surprise," which is hovered over by a singsongy synth. When Spiv (real name Chris Barber) goes acoustic, he avoids a jangly strum and fingerpicks behind "Seedy Release," again sidestepping power pop convention and keeping the sound his own. When a jangly guitar finally appears ("Because I'm In Love"), it's so unexpected it seems almost innovative. The song is a sweet bit of psychedelia with a hint of John Lennon's influence in the beautiful chorus, a source acknowledged earlier on the CD with a nice tune called "Beatley" that is all Chris Barber for the first half of the song and ends up as a nod to the medley on Abbey Road.
Barber's created a cool pop album here, loaded with diversity despite its brevity, from simple pop to psychedelia to a tune called "Vips Of The Street" that is a little like The Pet Shop Boys on acid. And here I thought The Pet Shop Boys were like The Pet Shop Boys on acid. I'm into this guy's music. I want more. Owning the EP and the CD, of course, I actually have a 4 song EP and a 6 song EP, if you think about it. So I'm still waiting for a FULL LENGTH RELEASE, and I'm willing to keep waiting. I mean... what are my options, y'know? "Seedy release - That's all you will get from me..." CD Release. Cute. That's all I want. This'll do quite nicely for now. For those of you who don't have the EP, this will do perfectly.
© 2003 - DJ Johnson