ALICE DESPARD GROUP
Alice Despard Group (Arlingtone)
Reviewed by Jason Thornberry

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Sean O'Brien (bass/vocals and guitar from I See Spots) cameos here, but it's largely Alice's affair. Jangly, indie-pop stuff, fairly mid-fi, and mid-tempo. A post-pop, Replacements/Soul Asylum (with femme vocals)-like feel, not entirely like a fairly downbeat Figure 4. There are a few No Depression (nouveau alt. Country) moments, but for the most part, this debut sticks to somewhat of a formula. Alice Despard handles all of the vocals herein, and there are a couple of fairly catchy choruses (best song: Vessel), but on the whole, this record just didn't keep my interest. Not that it was bad or anything either. I listened to it for about three weeks, trying to let it grow on me. Nothing. Well, no. I did come back to Vessel a lot. The remainder is only…adequate, well played, and fairly tuneful. The tunes just didn't stick. (www.arlingtone.com)

© 2000 - Jason Thornberry