Paris, Texas - Brazilliant! EP
(Polyvinyl)

Paris, Texas is not really the reason for Polyvinyl's lessened cuteness, but the fact remains that they (but not them alone) are not very cute. Sure they look cute--they dress cleanly, and they have nice haircuts--but they do not sound cute. The band takes a pretty every day approach to pop punk. They do it fairly well, but you've definitely heard this music before.

The band does seem, at least, to be students of good rock and punk music. Their approach is not the same sort of throw aways you may hear from similar bands on the radio or coming from bands on Jade Tree (which are perhaps overly cute). Instead, the band puts punk over pop, sounding more like MC5 or the Buzzcocks than the Promise Ring or Blink 182. Vocalist Scott Sherpe's pseudo-British faux-accent (blech, not again) gives the songs sort of a blues feel, not as over the top as The Make Up but not as honest or powerful as any of the vocalists he is copying. Also, Matt Tennessen of Pelé plays bass for the band, but you would never know that from listening to the music.

There are five songs on this less than 15 minute EP. The first three blend into each other. It's hard to tell them apart, but it is decently catchy punk music. The fourth, "Future Scars," loses momentum during its quieter call and response section, but then goes back to a crunchy rock section which is at least serviceable. "400,000" ends the EP with a bit of diversion, the band showing it can be quiet and melodic but still sound decent (unlike the previous song).

If there weren't so many other things to buy, I would sell the couple old, bad CDs I own in this genre (names withheld to protect my own innocence) and replace them with Paris, Texas CDs. Fortunately, there are better things... Paris, Texas' sounds are just not unique or interesting enough to go to the effort of getting off my ass.

jim steed 2000 oct 27