The Merbabies, a threesome from Long Beach, Calif., run a pretty loose ship musically, with a lazy guitar, dull bass and drums that more often than not lack a certain snap. Add that to the fairly muddy production work, and overall you've got a nice, numb wall of noise. The first track, "Slowdown," is precisely the wrong song with which to lead the record. It sounds like vocalist Chris Bowden is singing through a towel from behind the bathroom door while the rest of the band jams down the hall in the kitchen. Things pick up a bit with "Merry Mixer," an instrumental pop confection, evoking the beaches and surf of the band's home. Suddenly, you're right in the middle of a Hawaii 5-0 episode, and just up the beach Moondoggie and Gidget are surfin' in the U.S.A. For all the fuzz of the first half of the record, the second half picks up considerably. The vocals and lyrics become a bit stronger, the band is tighter, and the guitar riffs occasionally sound a bit like early Neil Young. This album sounds as if it was recorded as a work in progress. With a bit more effort, though, there is potential here for a really fun band in the tradition of Model Engine. Their lack of zing is the only thing holding The Merbabies back.
Other coverage for this album
The Stoutonia Vol 88 #9Reviewed by Jason GilmourThe Merbabies are a three piece band out of southern California that have recently released their first CD on Jackson/Rubio. This self-titled album might be their first, but it's obvious they've spent some time working on their sound, as well as their image. At first glance this CD may seem a little rough and low quality, but upon further listening, it's plain to see that their raw and imperfect…Similar sounding releases
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