"..nobody's heard of the amps anyway.."
Kim's quick dismissal (even while jokingly) of this my-other-band-is-on-hiatus band is a bit surprising and a tad sad, for one big reason - Pacer includes some of the most moving, beautifully crafted, and overall best songs of the Kim catalog. This album would easily be the best Breeders release, if it was the Breeders... but it's actually probably better that it isn't. For one thing the different moniker allows this collection of Kim creation to be automatically separated in one's mind from the ahoohah's of Last Splash. And then, well, it just makes for a more wonderfully interesting story, sticking a detour onto Breeder road.
Breeders drummer Jim Macpherson is on here (being the other member of that band that didn't have a reason to stop), as is Kelley Deal, who apparently sings backing vox and plays some bass somewhere..although she's not credited so eh, I don't know where. Kim intended to include her somehow and there are interviews floating around about this if you want to try and figure it out yourself.
And I'd say to all the people who sighed at such a long wait between Breeders albums Last Splash and Title TK, and sighed more at the fundamental differences in sound between the two - quit thinking of the Amps as a side project and you'll make some interesting discoveries...
I generally listen to this album moreso when I'm sad, or just not exactly ecstatic. It complements that mood expertly. It also happens to be pretty relaxing... The only thing I've never put it to use for is background sound. It's too good for that - I can't not pay attention to it.
It's really great happy sadness.
A Different Approach
Let's just say that Kim Deal is a genius!! This woman has done more in rock than any other women out there. You can trace everything back to her previous band, the Pixies. The Amps was created when The Breeders were on hiatus, while the members wanted to do other things, Kim did not want to stop. She got Breeders' drummer, Jim Macpherson to play along. The original name for the band was Tammy and the Amps, but Kim decided to shorten it. She went to her hometown of Dayton, OH to record the tracks. This album is totally different from that of any of The Breeders and the Pixies previous albums. She introduced a lo-fi sound that is very much present in the Breeders' latest release, Title TK. This is why she rocks!! She likes to be different and not go with the mainstream. Songs like "Hoverin'" "She's a Girl," and "Bragging Party" are the highlights of this album. In these songs, she brings a hallow, yet, very unique sound to the album. She can go in different vocal ranges, take for example, "Empty Glasses," in which she is screaming, well sort of. It sounds like Kim is trying out different voices in her songs, which shows she could do whatever she wants. It shows she likes to twick a lot while producing this album, and she is not afraid to do it.
A big ups to Ms. Kim Deal. This first and only album is a milestone in itself...and yes Kim, we have heard of the Amps.
great
the second best Breeders record after "Pod". 'Last Splash"'s great songs were marred by overproduction and "Title TK"'s good songs are sloppy and rambling due to the musicians apparently being stoned throughout the entire record, but this one really clicks. Great, snappy, scrappy, punky songs, great rough production that best suits Kim Deal's aesthetic, and a good band to carry it off. Very listenable and engaging from start to finish and quite addictive.
Basically a Breeders album...
People complain all the time about the big gap between Last Splash and Title TK, but not many realize that The Amps is in essence a Breeders album. With drums from Breeders drummer Jim MacPherson and the wonderful Ms. Kim Deal, it's a must-have for any Breeders fan. Standout tracks include "I Am Decided", "Dedicated" and "Tipp City."
suppressed but palpable anger
The Amps feature Kim Deal of The Breeders. Pacer, the opener, is a friendly-sung delight with cutesy lyrics. Tipp City is like a coy cheerleader who devolves lovingly into a distorted hussy. The loopy stoner singing throughout this album evokes melancholy or stultification. I Am Decided bounds and shakes with charmed vocals. Mom's Drunk has an appealing mid-riff but that is about all that appeals.
Goofy harmonizing lifts the slow, pungent pace of Bragging Party and the foggy Hoverin' bangs about enough. Both have a lot of knocking and clunking to them. First-Revival is a grinding, jangling, nicely sung concoction and Full On Idle has a frenetic jump. Breaking The Split Screen Barrier has a joyfully scattered cohesion.
Empty Glasses is a great guitar-shard tirade and She's A Girl, with its dinging guitars is the album's best mix of vocals and music. The last song Dedicated is where that icy chant-like singing breaks warmly and leaves us with a glowing respite after a lot of suppressed but palpable anger.
