Customer Reviews

3

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

While Psychedelicate is still my favorite Slumber Party release, 3 does not disappoint in any way. While still filled with the same ethereal, atmospheric beauty as before, 3 focuses slightly more on upbeat pop melodies and lush harmonies. If you're a fan of Aislers Set, Velvet Underground or similar groups, this is for you.

On their third full-length release, aptly titled 3, the Motor City based outfit's unhurried, slow-crawling music is nicely peppered with stinging guitar picks, leisurely methodical drum beats, and soft breathy vocals (Aliccia, Gretche, Leigh, and Julie all contribute in that department). The pace is glacial, but the music is far from soporific.

Slumber Party's rhythmically tender approach is simply compelling. With 3 being my first introduction to the band, I'm highly ecstatic, yet regretful I haven't heard of the group earlier. Like a 4 a.m. dream, the whole album's sound contains this murky haziness that lingers for ten straight tracks. On "New Trouble" and "On-T.V." a beguiling mixture of dreamy pop, hand-claps, synthesizer chirps and hums, and a subdued organ bounce and buzz. The infectious saunter of tracks like "Drunk" and "Why?" contains the attractive resonation of the bowed violin, and one of my favorite cuts off the album, the countrified "Black Heart Road," is sporadically stitched with the exhaling and inhaling of a harmonica.

The one element that really stands out for me is the full echoing quality of the lead guitar that tiptoes above the murky waves of continuous rhythm guitar strums and pounding drum beats, especially on the opener "Electric Boots" and "No Sleep Tonite."

3 is a laid-back soundtrack for those restless summer nights. Sure, it contains traces of The Velvet Underground and Nico elements, but it's a pretty fresh and original sounding release aside from that. The sound of Slumber Party's warm ambiance is truly intoxicating and deserves a permanent place in your record collection.

Nine of the ten cuts are bright, airy, fuzzed up pop with breathy lead vocals and nice harmonies. Airy does not, however, mean airheads -- Slumber Party's lyrics are often wry, intelligent and shrewd. I found this band one day randomly through Pandora and it's one of those discoveries you wish had come sooner, but can be just thankful it came at all. New Trouble steps out of the overall mood a bit and that's the one cut that doesn't work entirely for me. Still, 3 is very, very good.

I would never have heard of Slumber Party were it not for their contribution to a Patty Duke Tribute 45 I got some years ago. Their blending of simple, effective female voices and pop-rock underplaying proved there was a lot more to this Detroit group than one cover-song could say, and truly, "3" is a real find. Blending beautifully worked out verses and melodies in the vein of Tiger Trap and Bunnygrunt, this alt rock romantic melodrama combines jangly melodies with a melancholy edge. There's some giddy fun, with the girls occasionally ribbing eachother before all coming together in blissful unison.

The new CD from the all girl Detroit band will really catch your attention. With catchy hooks,beats and lyrics that sound more like a band right out of the surfing 60's, this band will have you listening to this CD over and over. Their sound seems more like a recording set up in a garage and using a four track tape recorder to deliver their music. While they are a low profile band, they are not to be overlooked. This atmospheric CD contains not a single track that is bad, which is a rarity in today's music. With a low price tag, you should definately not miss out on buying this CD to add to your collection.