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The Flake, fronted by James Mercer, were playing pure pop in Albuquerque (New Mexico) when the Brit-pop
stars were enjoying world headlines. But the Flakes were playing real pop,
not the adulterated version offered by the Oasis.
The single Mieke (Resin, 1993), the EP Spork (Science Project, 1995)
and the album Flake Music (Cargo, 1997)
are their personal tribute to Brian Wilson.
When You Land Here (Omnibus, 2002) would be released only five years later.
The Shins were born on the ashes of the Flake.
The EP Nature Bears A Vacuum (Omnibus, 1998), the album
When You Land Here (Omnibus, 1999) and the single
When I Goose Step (Omnibus, 2000)
refined the new concept.
The only problem with Oh Inverted World (Subpop, 2001) is that
the pop is too poppy. There isn't a single note in the first eight songs
that one could define "original", "inventive", "bold".
This are third-rate melodies.
No doubt the Beatles would have salivated for New Slang,
and the Beach Boys would be proud of Girl Inform Me
but substance this is not.
Caring Is Creepy stands out as less predictable than the average.
The album was followed by the singles
Know Yr Onion and The Past and the Pending.
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(Translation by/ Tradotto da Carlo Crudele)
I Flake suonavano pop puro ad Albuquerque (Nuovo Messico) quando le stelle del brit-pop si godevano i titoli dei giornali di tutto il mondo. Ma i Flake suonavano pop vero, non la versione ADULTERATED offerta dagli Oasis. Il singolo Mieke (Resin, 1993), l'EP Spork (Science Project, 1995) e l'album
Flake Music (Cargo, 1997) sono il loro omaggio personale a Brian Wilson.
Gli Shins sono nati sulle ceneri dei Flake. L'EP Nature Bears A Vacuum (Omnibus, 1998), l'album Wjen You Land Here (Omnibus, 1998) ed il singolo When I Goose Step (Omnibus, 2000) hanno raffinato l'idea di base.
Il solo problema di Oh Inverted World (Subpop, 2001) e` che il pop e` troppo pop. Non c'e` una sola nota nelle prime otto canzoni che potrebbe essere definita "originale", "creativa", "strana". Queste sono melodie di terza mano. Nessun dubbio sul fatto che i Beatles avrebbero sbavato su New Slang, ne` che i Beach Boys sarebbero orgogliosi di Girl Inform Me, ma qui non c'e` sostanza.
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