THE MASTICATORS - Masticate!
T'Mlou
It's incredible the amount of GREAT, GREAT pop CD's that are being released independently or by very small record labels these days. MASTICATE! by The Masticators is yet another example. It's the debut of this Los Angeles-based band, which features lead singer and front girl Lisa Mychols, guitarist and keyboardist Patrick McGrath, bassist Severo and drummer Robbie (Wonderboy) Rist. Their roots are all over melodic pop from the last 35 years, with Lisa's vocals (a cross between 60's Phil Spector girl groups, Dusty Springfield and Blondie) and songwriting and the band's playing as main attractions. MASTICATE! contains some great up tempo, melodic Rock 'n' Roll songs, like 'Now That You're Gone', 'He's Coming Out', 'Kidnapper Song' and 'Never Try' . The album also has some more intimate moments in songs like 'Help Me Dream', 'He's The One' and the up tempo ballad 'The Rain', one of the best songs of the decade so far. The only downer on this record is the last song, a cover of Devo's 'Uncontrollable Urge'. With so much original and excellent material on those first 12 tracks, this song, as well played as it is, is a let down, especially because it's right after the highlight of the album, 'The Rain'. Fortunately, however, there is a skip button on the CD player. Despite the last track, listen to one of the greatest albums of the year so far! And major labels: eat your heart out, or sign this band very soon!
PATRICK BECKERS (8)
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Lisa Mychols is a force to be reckoned with, possessing an outstanding voice that retains its sassy sweetness on the rockingest numbers. Peppy rockers that extend the virtues of ALL OVER THE PLACE-era Bangles are the backbone of this effort ('Radio Police', 'Here's A Boy', 'He's Coming Out'), but ventures into 50's boppin rock (NRBQ should cover 'The One I Wanna Love'), lite-reggae (He's The One') and poppy singer-songwriter stuff ('Day To Day', 'Help Me Dream') showcase an all-around songwriter. The ballads further highlight Mychols' pipes, but the mellower stuff is not quite as memorable. The quartet can flat out play (wondergirl Mychols is supported by bassist Servo and half of Wonderboy - guitarist Patrick McGrath and drummer Robbie Rist) and is generally served well by the production of Rist and Steve Relfing. Though I'd like the guitars a wee bit higher in the mix on the rocking numbers, Rist and Relfing avoid a bloodless digital sheen, giving the disc a live, 'you are there' feel. Of course, the logical ending to a disc of fine 60's cum skinny tie rock is : a Devo cover! And darned if they don't pull off the classic 'Uncontrollable Urge' with characteristic aplomb. Fans of Big Hello and Bonnie Hayes also might want to check this out.
MIKE BENNETT (7.5)
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
At first I wanted to dismiss the Masticators as just another fairly average female-fronted guitar-pop band, but after repeated listenings I simply couldn't. They rarely stray from the guitar/bass/drums format, and there really aren't a heck of a lot of overdubs or unusual production flourishes, but I realize now that it's that very simplicity and directness that make the Masticators so endearing. Musically, band leader Lisa Mychols draws from a terrific range of past female rockers for inspiration. The opening instrumental track 'Intro' is angst-ridden pop in the vein of more current bands like Elastica and Echobelly, while other songs feel like updated 60's "girl group" numbers. Even the mod, swinging styles of Nancy Sinatra and Dusty Springfield are touched upon ('The One I Wanna Love' and 'Never Try', respectively). There's a terrific 'Tide Is High'-era Blondie sound-a-like ('He's The One' [Island Version]' and a supercharged '70's power pop cut ('Radio Police'). With this mix of styles, I must confess that the Masticators really remind me of the early Bangles records - it is solid, infectious pop that also rocks out quite a bit (but with none of that 'Walk Like An Egyptian' crap). If I had been told beforehand that 'Here's A Boy' and 'He's Coming Out' were lost b-sides from 'All Over The Place' , I'd believe it. And trust me, that's a very good thing.
JUDE HAYDEN (6)
www.sandplum.com/masticators/