THE DOVES
The Last Broadcast (Capitol)
Reviewed by Melanie Campbell

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"Britpop" is starting to become a four-letter word around here, it's so overused! The Doves, while definitely British, aren't exactly a pop band in the same vein as Oasis or Blur. But they definitely have some pop overtones in the mix on "The Last Broadcast," their third full-length release. As is a fitting tribute for the "Next Big BritpopThing," every critic in Europe has been trying to find those obvious Beatles influences, along with all the riffs they surely must have cadged from Radiohead's OK Computer. However, we say that neither of these comparisons really pass muster. After a spin or two, it seems like these guys have more in common with Pink Floyd and King Crimson than Lennon-McCartney. These are decidedly not your father's pop songs. They careen into a bit of pretentious wordiness here and there. Rather cold and detached at times, some of this stuff does not exactly contain the kind of subject matter that put the Mersey beat on the musical map. Doesn't matter though, as the waves of guitars and keyboards wash over the musical landscape like a springtime rain, notably on "Words" and "Friday's Dust," you could care less what they're actually talking about. The Last Broadcast is light, but it's in no way fluffy. It's mood music, served up in layers, with a weird, chilling edge to it. Not since the Smiths married miserable subject matter to happy melodies has there been a record so upliftingly depressing. If this was a hot-tub, you'd soak in it 'til you were all wrinkly and still wanna stay submersed in it even though it's bad for you...

© 2002 - Melanie Campbell