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 Caught in the Carousel - Music Reviews and More
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The Parties
Can't Come Up
Rainbow Quartz
Conjuring images of Lambretta vespa scooters, boys in button down shirts and Fred Perry shoes and girls in mini skirts and tights, The Parties' debut is a winning batch of '60s mod pop. The San Francisco-based band jangle their rickenbackers and layer their harmonies so convincingly on Can't Come Up, they sound like they were sent directly from the era they admire so much. "Radio" and "Cold Life" are powered by a pitch-perfect 12-string punch; the catchy "Waterfall" benefits from a guest tremelo guitar and for all of its smooth jingle jangle delivery, "The Parties" is one of the best breakup songs of the year ("All of the records that I thought were mine/I'll have to buy again some time"). Although The Parties may be denizens of The Kinks and the Velvet Underground, there are traces of pop antecedents as well: "Breaking Hearts" suggests Cheap Trick, while the coats of harmonies on "Velvet Love Affair" and "Gotta Get Out" bring to mind the lush work of Teenage Fanclub. There's not a song on here that would sound out of place blaring from the speakers of a boutique on Carnaby Street.
—Alex Green
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