Review by LarryG
3 stars out of 4
When he's interviewed, Evan Dando gives the impression of being a somewhat
dopey, strung out pretty boy. But he's some sort of idiot savant with an
amazing ability to write tight, catchy pop rock songs. Both It's a Shame
About Ray and its successor, Come On Feel the Lemonheads, have one boppy
song after another. The Lemonheads' most recent, Car Button Cloth, also
has a lot of good songs, including the great, though disturbing, If I
Could Talk I'd Tell You. But It's a Shame About Ray is their best for its
raw, joyful spirit as well as an excellent, fast, loose limbed version
of Simon & Garfunkel's Mrs. Robinson. It's a Shame sets a fun, fast
tone right from the start, racing through its tale of a little boy's
pram ride on Rockin Stroll in less than two minutes of garage rock bliss.
Confetti with its "he kinda, should of, sort of would have loved
her if he could have" refrain is bouncy rock with a nice guitar
solo from Dando. The title track slows things down a little but has a
great hook. Throughout, the songs are fun, fast pop. The songs aren't
particular important, just good music. Dando mixes the moods with angst
tinged songs like Rudderless and purely exuberant ones like Alison's
Starting to Happen. No matter what, the music keeps moving. The band
with Juliana Hatfield, who made a very good, catchy pop rock album of
her own called Become What You Are, on bass does a good job of keeping
up with Dando's great pop.
Here's what others reviewers have to say:
Included in Q's list of the 50 Best Albums Of 1992. Q Magazine
1/93
"...a triumphant return with a fifth heaping hamper of catchy, crafty
guitar-pop ditties via [Dando's] wonderful Lemonheads..." Spin
5/92, p.16
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