Eternity's Children CD

Eternity's Children's self-titled debut LP rates high on the want list of many sunshine pop collectors, due both to the involvement of Curt Boettcher as co-producer (with Keith Olsen) and the band's polished three-man, one-woman vocal harmonies. It's an erratic album, though, and the group's intricate and polished singing is more interesting than the material, which is lush but undistinguished and lacking in consistent identity. While the hesitatingly bittersweet leadoff cut "Again Again" and parts of some other tunes inject some much-needed moodiness into both the group's sound and the sunshine pop genre as a whole, other songs have the bland, innocuous cheeriness endemic to much of the style. Influences from the Beach Boys, Boettcher and Olsen's group the Millennium, and male-female harmony pop/rock groups like Spanky & Our Gang bounce around much of the rest of the songs, though these don't coalesce into anything as distinctive or catchy as those points of reference. When Linda Lawley steps out in front for a commanding yet affecting lead vocal on "Your World," one wonders if the group might have benefited from giving her more showcases. [In 2002 Cherry Red released a CD compilation also titled Eternity's Children, which includes their second album, Timeless, and some tracks from non-LP singles.] ~ Richie Unterberger

First production project for the team of Curt Boettcher and Keith Olsen, who have worked together and seperately with artists such as Tommy Roe, the Beach Boys and Fleetwood Mac.

Includes liner notes by Dawn Eden.