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I cannot figure out why this one seemed to get so little notice in the press. There were some good reviews, but they seemed to be forgotten by the time all the best of the year/decade lists were written.

Yes, if you like Sonic Youth, you will like this band, although I have played some of the songs for non-Sonic Youth fans and they loved them, too. My wife, who dislikes SY and most of the other producers of "beautiful noise" I listen to, really likes some of these songs, especially "Poolhouse Blue." Some fans of the European minimalist bands of the 70's through today should also like them, as should punk, britpop, shoegazer and emo fans with reasonably open minds.

18th Dye have split to pursue other projects, but what fantastic records they made during their short existence. I hear their live shows were incredible. Trivia note: Yo La Tengo are big fans, and introduced Matador Records to 18th Dye's recordings. Matador were very impressed, and soon began releasing the band's records in the U.S.

Although similar in a few respects to Sonic Youth, 18th Dye has a different effect on me. Their sound is much more stripped down, with the drums especially being very straightforward and steady-on. Their take on guitar distortion isn't Sonic Youth's shoot-at-anything-that-moves approach; 18th Dye is all about precision attacks. The midsection of Poolhouse Blue contains some of the most closely controlled feedback I've ever heard. They've succeed in shaping it into a sort of melody line. Beautiful.

The vocals are sung very low-key, almost dryly in many cases, but this just enhances the effect of the jolts when the music manically yet precisely looses its cool.

What kind of music would make u unforgettable? Just listen to "Poolhouse Blues" in this album!! Although it was neglected under Britpop,I believe 18th dye has presented something exordinary and everlasting in the 90's. Just try it!!