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3.0 out of 5 stars
Clap Your Hands if You Believe in Fairies... or not, June 11, 2006
This review is from: country international records (Audio CD)
On their third full-length release, the Vienna-bred Sugarplum Fairies (vocalist Sylvia Rider and guitarist Ben Bohm) ditch the conceptual lo-fi antics of their first two releases in favor of a more refined (yet equally DIY) garage rock vibe. Evidently taking a cue from the likes of the Velvet Underground (in their Nico days) and Mazzy Star, producers Ken Coomer (Wilco) and Charlie Brocco (George Harrison, Jeff Lynne) imbue these sultry tunes with a hazy, dreamlike quality, right down to the tambourines that pop up on the lilting "First Love, Last Rites" and the percussion that fuels "I'm Just Fine" (which also seems to have been inspired by `70s-era Fleetwood Mac). The subject matter consists of somber tunes about heartbreak and stuff ("You sold me the world and you promised the tables would turn," Rider croons on "Velcro Girl"), and the dreamy arrangements more than compliment the sad lyrics. The disc closes with a drowsy take on U2's "All I Want Is You," a fitting ending to a disc that reveals this duo's rockier aspirations. It's all good stuff to be sure--even if you can't shake the feeling that you've heard it all before.
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