Propeller by Shoes (U.S.) (CD, Jan-1995, Black Vinyl)

Album Features
UPC:	048621029420
Artist:	Shoes (U.S.)
Format:	CD
Release Year:	1995
Record Label:	Black Vinyl
Genre:	New Wave, Rock & Pop

Details
Playing Time:	46 min.
Distributor:	n/a
Recording Type:	Studio
Recording Mode:	Stereo
SPAR Code:	DDD

Album Notes
Shoes' first -- and with the exception of 1995's live Fret Buzz, last -- album of the '90s largely avoids the trap of overproduction that befell their post-Elektra albums of the '80s, which, in retrospect, sound terribly dated. Perhaps inspired by the new flowering of D.I.Y. bands in the early '90s, Jeff Murphy, John Murphy, and Gary Klebe open up their sound a bit more, turning up their distortion pedals and pulling back on the synths that had colored 1989's Stolen Wishes and 1984's Silhouette. Kicking off with the uncharacteristic Creedence-style choogle of Klebe's "Animal Attraction," Propeller is a little harder rocking than before, with only the winsome "Don't Do This to Me" forsaking the punchy riffs and Cheap Trick-style choruses that permeate the rest of the album. As always, songwriting duties are rigidly democratic, but, for some reason, Jeff Murphy's batch of four are the weakest of the lot, with uninspired choruses and less memorable melodies than his cohorts' efforts. ~ Stewart Mason

Editorial Reviews
...Twelve tracks, 45 minutes of sheer bliss, mate, that can conjure up images of Squeeze, the Beatles and all points inbetween without ever sounding retro or getting wimpy. Power pop keeps threatening to make a comeback, and when it's as good as this, I don't know why it hasn't...
Alternative Press (19950301)