Cool Chick #59

Convincing Australian hard-guitar/sweet-vocals pop group makes the most of U.S. release on Slumberland. "Cool Chick #59" has the feel of one of those '60s gems you loved more each time you heard it until oldies radio overplayed it, and even then it still sounded great. It's a familiar formula -- "ahhhhh" backing vocals, an instantly appealing melody that sounds like some producer yelled "hit single, boys," a slower tempo, and blues-driven guitar leads in the instrumental passages. The also good (less special) B-side, "Momentum," is way faster, and much more vicious, closer to the psychedelic/garage punk mix that continent has been known for during the '90s. So what? The Earthmen don't care about anything as integral as "new ground." They've got the basics down fine. And Summershine is one of down under's finest labels too, if you want to investigate further; everything it has released has been first-rate. ~ Jack Rabid