Review of The Best of The Lemonheads - The Atlantic Years
by Robin Grant
From The Lantern 22nd September 1998
Catchy tunes and melodies laced with fresh lyrics create a distinct sound on the newly released "The Best of the Lemonheads-the Atlantic Years." Some of the tracks are better suited to lead singer Evan Dando`s voice than others, but overall the CD captures some of the best of the Lemonheads` tunes.
Track one, "Confetti," starts the album off with a fast pace and a very catchy tune. The lyrics themselves explain the plot of the song best, "He kinda shoulda sorta woulda loved her if he could have." The lyrics are almost indecipherable, but I soon found myself singing along. Much of the CD turned out to be similar.
One of the more recognizable tunes on the CD that got a lot of radio airtime is track three, "Into Your Arms." A repetitive song with decent lyrics, this one gets in your head and plays over and over. "Into your arms, whoa, into your arms, oh, into your arms I can go..."
The Lemonheads cover of "Mrs. Robinson" also received a decent amount of radio time, and can be found on the "best" CD. This remake of the Simon and Garfunkel tune gets a hipper, faster, more rockish face-lift from the Lemonheads, giving it an updated, `90s kind of feel.
In a more slow twist, the last track, "Ride with Me," has a mellow, almost Pink Floyd-esque kind of sound. The music to this song is acoustic, which is in definite contrast to the other tunes on the album, adding depth and soul to the CD. The song is well suited for Dando`s voice and the acoustic guitar mixes well with the lyrics.
Members of the Lemonheads have changed many times over the group`s 12-year existence. The only original member to remain throughout the years is Dando, who formed the group in high school in 1986. In 1990 the Lemonheads signed with Atlantic records and in 1992 released the album "It`s a Shame About Ray," which contained the hit cover "Mrs. Robinson." In 1993, the song "Into Your Arms" was also a hit and appeared on their follow-up album, "Come On Feel the Lemonheads."
You don`t have to be a previous fan to enjoy "The Best of the Lemonheads." The album has that groovin` rock feel with an almost universal appeal. A decent compilation of their past hits, this CD is a must-hear.