The pop viciousness exuding from Elastica's pores far surpasses any qualities thus far exhibited in Britain's "new glam" movement. One time Suede member (pre-"London" era) Justine Frischmann and Donna Matthews weave together assorted guitar and vocal textures, recalling various levels of pop genius in a disdainful, Kinks-esque tone.
Frischmann's dry lyrics are deliciously biting. Her sarcastic take on stardom ("if I can't be a star I won't get out of bed"), groupies ("Drivel head knows all the stars/Loves to suck their shining guitars"), and impotence ("no need to whine boy") are all icily casual. Musically, Elastica is a pop lover's dream. Combining a Buzzcocks-tight rhythm section with enviable guitar delirium, Elastica's grip on pop sensibility is dead-center.
What sets the band apart from their peers is their unstoppable wit. Already stars in their native England, Elastica have gotten it all but have also maintained a fabulously jaded perspective in regards to their desires--as Frischmann herself points out in "Waking Up," all she needs is "a guitar and a lover who pays me." What could possibly be more gratifying. All hail Elastica.
Personnel: Donna Matthews, Justine Frischmann (vocals, guitar); Janis Oliver (vocals); Dan Abnormal (keyboards); Justin Welch (drums).
Audio Mixers: John Leckie; Alan Moulder; Marc Waterman; Miti; Paul Tipler; Phil Vinall; Bruce Lampcov.
Elastica: Justine Frischmann, Donna Matthews (vocals, guitar); Annie Holland (bass); Justin Welch (drums).
Additional personnel: Dan Abnormal (keyboards).
Rolling Stone (1/25/96, p.41) - Ranked #4 in the 1996 Critics' Poll. Rolling Stone (5/18/95, pp.88-90) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...Impetuous, smart and loud, Elastica rival any of their contemporaries, and with this album, they arrive with a quick-witted bang..." Spin (12/95, p.62) - Ranked #4 on Spin's list of the `20 Best Albums of '95.' Spin (5/95, p.94) - 9 - Highly Recommended - "...Influences:...Blondie and the Waitresses minus the guys named Chris, the Buzzcocks going shopping....Easily THE makeout album for kids who don't have time to play spin the bottle." Entertainment Weekly (4/7/95, p.91) - "...Justine Frischmann's awkward sex-in-a-Ford-Fiesta forwardness (`Car Song') can charm your pants off..." - Rating: B+ Alternative Press (7/01, p.96) - Included in AP's "10 Essential Women's Rock Albums" - "...Inspiring a whole new generation of girls to get up and play..." Option (7-8/95, pp.102-104) - "...the three-women/one-man British band cranks out some crisp new coleslaw, silmultaneously tart and sweet, their debut a fresh mash of peppery pop and Saccharine screech..." Melody Maker (12/23-30/95, pp.66-67) - Ranked #21 on Melody Maker's list of 1995's `Albums Of The Year' - "...defiantly, sardonically, bleakly, energetically, brilliantly a NOW band. Post-punk with no illusions, no fillers." Musician (6/95, p.72) - "...the right mix of smile and snarl....Justine Frischmann...is a versatile writer whose songs are as melodic as they are direct, explosive as they are concise....perfectly punked-up pop-rock..." Village Voice (2/20/96) - Ranked #4 in Village Voice's 1995 Pazz & Jop Critics' Poll. New York Times (Publisher) (1/6/96, p.C16) - Included on Jon Pareles' list of the Top 10 Albums of `95 - "...Justine Frischmann and Donna Matthews revive the concision and clear-cut guitar riffs of late-1970's new wave while they analyze the latest twists in modern courtship..." NME (Magazine) (12/23-30/95, pp.22-23) - Ranked #11 in NME's `Top 50 Albums Of The Year' for 1995 - "...Fuelled by a grimy, punk-rock aesthetic, yet oozing glamour and sporting the snappiest, snarliest pop songs this side of the Old Wave of New Wave..."
The Stranglette's? Fairly good album from "The Women In Black"(Theres a guy in there I know, but primarily female)..They were a big deal for a few minutes in the mid 90s, I turned a cold shoulder back then. It had to do with the shameless rip-off of the Stranglers I suppose, but a pretty good CD despite it. Submitted by cg531 (NYC, USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
A Real British Punk Album This album really rocks, it is very original with those catchy bass lines and power chords on the guitar make this album great,
even though this album was made in 1995 it still rocks
5 STARS. Submitted by imcool_1992 (Warwick, England) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Electronica/Rock at it's Best Frankly, this album ROCKS! 'Connection' is a great song, and the album really flows with the numerous electronica/rock songs. Anyone into more electronica music would love this album, along with anyone into punk or hard rock. Submitted by angstlyplatypus (Yardley, PA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo This review is for a different format.
The Stranglette's?
A Real British Punk Album
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