Customer Reviews

Not Even Pretty

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

 

 

There are moments when Vomit Launch's music fit its name to a "T" - "Kill the Bouncer" and that vein were party tunes and what has aptly been called "anti frat." But there was another side to Vomit Launch, one that made more than a few folks lament the band's insistence on calling itself what it called itself. Songs like "Stillness," pop gems with shimmering guitars, tight rhythms and truly lovely melodies, are as good as anything released in the "college radio" genre in its prime. But damn! They broke up before going on to be discovered nationally, or being talked into changing their name (I believe the name was the ONLY thing keeping them from becoming media friendly -- they were all nice people at least in the clubs where they played). The bassist, Larry Crane, has found a career as a recording engineer (Elliott Smith and he started a recording studio in the '90s) and magazine editor (for the very excellent recordist's journal, Tape Op). No idea where the others are, but here's one fan who hopes they know what a strong place they hold on his shelf of favorites. Not "local" or "regional" or "I saw them 20 times because they were playing down the street" favorites but right there with the masters.

I bought this CD initially for the shock value of it's name, expecting something loud and grating. What I found was infinately better. They are haunting and melodic I found myself playing it over and over. I had the privledge of seeing them twice in SF. The singer ( hot) was blonde the first time and had black hair the second, I don't know why that matters but for me it lent to their mystique. This soon became my favorite album for quite awhile until I lost it. I've just reordered it and can't wait. I recently heard a new band named "Clap Your Hands Say Yeah" who at least on the couple of tracks available on their site sound to me Vomit launchish. Get this album and enjoy.

I have the original 6 song EP. Who'da thunk that a little Eclectic anti-frat college punk band like this would end up releasing a full CD let alone 2. Fit the time...

Not for everyone. But anyone from Chico in the mid to late 80's will wax nostalgic.