A Welcomed Fiasco

Where have you gone, Evan Dando, our ironical guitar pop ears turn a lonely direction to you. It’s been almost a decade since we last heard from the frontman of one of the 90’s most notoriously college adored groups in the Lemonheads. Not that Dando hasn’t been busy, what with his own solo work and several small but rewarding tours occupying the ten year downtime. The Lemonheads have returned with the self-titled reunion offering a modest diversion from their addicting pop formula that made them who they once were but improbably continue to be.

It’s honestly like a beat hasn’t skipped since Come On Feel The Lemonheads was last released. Dando still insists on the proven formula that lead to the success of It’s A Shame About Ray with. Opening number ‘Black Gown’ sums it up the best; “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” What is new and a welcomed addition is J. Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. fame helming duties at the guitar. His free form whaling brings a new edge to the band that was sorely missing by its demise. Down beat ‘Become the Enemy’ properly displays his presence as Masicis riddles the song with riffs that echo Dando’s lyrics. Even the country twangs of ‘Baby’s Home’ with its acoustic like banjo set sucker punched by weeping electric chords shows a new edge that feels less stubborn than the Dando we remember. ‘December’ is one of the few strays from their formulaic pop with a mid song crazed psychedelic guitar lead jam that seamlessly falls back to its pop roots in fantastic finish.

While a step forward since Dando’s solo release in 2003 Baby I’m Bored, it still has some bumps along the reunion road. After some time, each song tends to blend with its melancholy sounds masked by heavy guitars. Also a gripe is the length of the album. Ten long years and we only get 35 minutes as an encore? And oh how we long for the reconciliation of Dando and Hatfield [lord knows she needs it after the Some Girls debacle]. And the album itself feels more like b-sides to Ray than its own force because of sorely missed country enflamed numbers and diversity as a whole - save the work of Mascis taking to a new level - ultimately leaving this as a mere déjà vu more than a new sound.

Sean Kendall