SPIV
Everybody's A Rock Star Tonight (Pop Sweatshop)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson

---

If all this CD had to offer was the amusing and incredibly catchy title track I would have recommended it anyway, but this thing has more great moments than any 15 minute EP has a right to.

14:45, to be more precise, at the end of which you are surprised to find that's all the time that has transpired, because the band have taken you on quite a journey. The secret might be the fact that Spiv jumps genres as if there are no borders at all -- a nice thought at that -- and so by disc's end you've heard power pop, punk, and a deliciously intoxicating curtain-dropper called "VIPs Of The Street" that is one fine slice of trip-hop.

Chris Barber (vocals/guitar) sounds like nobody else you're hearing on the radio, and, of course, you're not hearing him either, since music this good doesn't get played, so you have to pull a Network job and run to the window and shout "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore" and go to http://www.popsweatshop.com and take charge of your musical life. I just checked and this thing is six bucks, which is certainly not "get rich quick" pricing. As Barber sings in the title tune, "Givin' up on a showcase slot - showing on MTV - So I decided to give my songs away - for free on MP3 - I got my fifteen minutes comin' to me! - I got my fifteen minutes comin' to me!" Let's hope.

© 2001 - DJ Johnson