THE BROKEN HEARTS
Want One? (Paisley Pop)
Reviewed by Alan Wright

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Prior to forming the powerpop band The Rooks, Michael Mazzarella was in the Broken Hearts, a mid-80s band. With their retro '60s look of suits and bowl haircuts and vintage Rickenbacher guitars, I was expecting some wild garage type stuff. In fact, the band was more of a Beatles/Byrds inspired combo and this, their lone LP from 1985, is pleasant enough but seems to lack the "oomph" to really connect. It's the kinda sterile production that kills it for me. It's not terrible, it's just not that inspired, and it's way too clean sounding. Things take a much better turn when you get to the "11 rare bonus tracks" tacked on, all of which are absolutely incredible garagey folk-rock stuff recorded in the much more primitive conditions of their rehearsal space. Songs like "Circle of Fools," "Always You and Me" and "That Kind Of Girl" are far more satisfying in terms of sonics than anything on the LP portion of this CD, and I recommend this based on the bonus tracks alone.

© 2003 - Alan Wright