Credits:

Drop Nineteens

Description:

Acclaimed upon emergence as the American response to the U.K.’s shoegazing trend, the Drop Nineteens weren’t totally following in that particular vein, though it was clear that they were the first of many American bands who had played Spacemen 3 and My Bloody Valentine releases to death. Combining that version of blissout with a dollop of late-’80s indie/college rock, the quintet on its first album created a sometimes excellent, sometimes generic effort of politely queasy guitar overdrive and gentle melancholia. Lead guitarists/vocalists Greg Ackell and Paula Kelley made for a good (if clearly Kevin Shields/Bilinda Butcher-inspired) front team, the latter’s singing the more distinct but the former’s generally more prominent, if flatter. The presence of third guitarist Motohiro Yasue promised more crunch and drive than was actually apparent, but there’s no denying the general presence of agree