Customer Reviews

Wondermints

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Only a few months ago, people were gladly paying $35 for the Japanese import. Now it's still an import (English) but at $12.99 you'll never make a better buy. It doesn't sound that much like Pet Sounds (maybe "Tracey Hide" is vaguely like "Caroline No"), but it will bring you bliss every time you listen. You may have heard that the Wondermints were Brian Wilson's backing band on his recent Pet Sounds tour. But their own music is not an homage to the Beach Boys--they definitely have their own identity. I recommend visiting their website and reading their story, along with the quotes from reviews of this album. I hope that will convince you to take a chance. This is one of those rare perfect albums. And, since they haven't released a new one in a few years, maybe your interest will help get them recording again.

See that...now it's only available as an import, now that Big Deal Records (NY, USA) is out of business...and you're kicking yourself for not buying it earlier...it's probably worth the hefty import price if you're a completist...but I say pick up "Wonderful World of" and "Bali" first...sure, "Proto-Pretty" shoulda been a huge hit, in a better world...but let's face it, musically, it ain't a better world when suburban white kids are listening to rap music instead of pure, sun-drenched pop...

There is a mistake of some kind going on here. The cover displayed is for the group's great first album, titled simply Wondermints. Wonderful World of the Wondermints is the group's follow-up album, which consists entirely of cover versions. Either way, both albums are brilliant, and I strongly advise you to disregard that previous, completely puzzling review.
The first album consists entirely of originals, and is one of the most solid power pop albums I've ever heard. The sond dissed previously, Carnival of Souls, is actually the closer, not the opener, and is in fact a super-catchy rocker. The rest uses the likes of the Beach Boys, Beatles, Elvis Costello, Left Banke and Velvet Underground as influences, yet still comes up sounding fresh. If you're a fan of any of these artists, you will love this album. I give it *****.
The second album is almost as good in its way. Cover albums are usually not a good idea, but this is a great example of how to do them well. The group makes interesting song choices, and brings them fresh life. Heck, they even have the audacity to cover one of their own songs. The opener, the Monkees' Porpoise Song, is a surprise stunner. Other artists whose songs get a novel approach include everyone from Brian Wilson to Paul Revere, Burt Bacharach, Pink Floyd, ABBA, the Turtles, along with some more obscure but fascinating choices. This album is great fun and full of quality. It stands up well to repeated listenings. Good luck finding these albums now, but if you do, you won't be sorry!

Proto-Pretty is fantastic & terrific, its excellence is almost scientific. The song gives its soul to you. It sounds like songs you have heard before, but you can't place what they are. It's a pocket symphony. The rest of the record is pretty good, as well -- especially Carnival of Souls. So good to see you, nice to see you, hope you're doing well . . .

When I told Jeff Foskett that "Thru My Window" was the best Brian Wilson tribute ever, I hadn't yet heard "Tracy Hide". It's like listening to Brian's "Wonderful" after huffing ether. That's meant as a compliment, and this album is a complement to both Pet Sounds and SMiLE. Buy this album and you'll hear one more reason why these guys motivated Brian to leave his room and go on the road.

I found out about this band from an English friend who's been listening to them for a while. I went out and got Bali and really dug it. I had to go out and get Wonderful World Of and Wondermints right away. I find this one to be the lesser album of the three, lacking the cohesion in the songlist found in Bali and the funky beats of Wonderful World Of. This is still a great album though.

This band is entirely underrated and this album is a gem! Great songs like "Tracy Hyde", "Proto Pretty", and other gems like "Time" and "Global Village Idiot" are very catchy. Many people compare them to The Beach Boys and what not, but I believe they have their own sound. It is very comtemporary but pays tribute to the sixties sound beautifully.

The Wondermints self-titled debut album is one of my all-time favorites. The lyrics pull at the imagination without leaving one feeling juvenile or dirty. The music is pure magic. If you are not too self-involved and/or if you like the the Trash Can Sintras, you will love this album.

If your first experience with Wondermints was with any of their other albums or as a part of Brian Wilson's backing band, don't expect to hear the greatest thing in the world when you hear the 1995 debut. Don't get me wrong, the songs themselves are great, they just sound weak; for the most part, these are pretty much demos recorded by Nick and Darian. "Proto-Pretty" is such a powerful rocker that you'll just wish they would have rerecorded it with real drums instead of a drum machine; others may say "I liked this song when it was out a few years earlier and called 'Shiny Happy People.'" "Tracey Hide" is an all-time classic that's obviously a musical tribute to Brian Wilson's 1965-1967 recordings, as is "Global Village Idiot," with its obvious "Heroes And Villains" influence. These three songs, along with the most excellent "Playtex Aviary," would make a killer E.P. The rest of the songs, well...good songs, but they need to be remade with a full band playing non-electronic instruments.

i bought this album after hearing about them from a fellow beach boys fan. i'm a huge pet sounds fan, but i love all kinds of orchestrated rock from "the left banke" to "beulah." this album is not that good, people. it's not even "okay." there are way better takes on the "brian wilson" (read: phil spector) sound. whether it's "the ladybug transistor" or "the apples in stereo." heck, check out a great vancouver band called "ashley park" as well. the production on this is so rooted in the eighties/nineties that it's almost unlistenable. they may be good road musicians but it doesn't show on this album, especially since some of tracks use lamo drum loops "a la stone roses." you would be better off going through the elephant 6 label's recordings or even merge stuff. to be honest, i didn't even find the compositions that scintillating, regardless of the production. chord and change-wise, they're interesting....but that doesn't make the songs good.