This two-CD set contains the now-defunct band's second (and last) albumand an EP of, well, odds and ends, and both CDs are filled with themusical equivalent of cotton candy: sweet, soft, and fuzzy with nonutritional value to speak of, but it's sure fun to eat.Archenemy
The music is blurry, dreamy, and distorted with barely discerniblevocals. There isn't a whole lot of variety between the songs, but Idon't mean that in a bad way. It's a long pleasant buzz like a nightspent sipping beer at a friend's place, as they say themselves in "TheCartographer": "At night we drink ourselves languid/And talk/Talkeasily." The songs slide into each other smoothly in a sugary blur.Lead vocals alternate between Annie Smidt and Rick Webb, and bothsingers' soft voices fit the shoegazing lyrics nicely.
"Fast Pop Song in D" is a standout track, easily the catchiest songon the album; according to the label's web site, the lack of a titlefor this song delayed the release of Departurefor nearly a year. Odds and Ends is a collection of unreleased gemsincluding a couple of live tracks and two songs originally released asa 7" single. Probably due to the band's somewhat monotonous sound(again, this isn't necessarily a bad thing) it works nicely as acohesive whole as much as Departure.
Rockets Burst fromthe Streetlamps might not have been the most original (or prolific)band out there, but they've left us a few tasty nuggets to enjoy.
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