It's the big, polished modern rock backdrop that really lets Steve Gripentrog's lucid guitar work come to the fore on Stuff, and it works well as a framework for the searching vocals by brother John as well. Distinct influences like Television, Suede, The Smiths and Radiohead can be heard in the complex melodies and multi-guitar textures here, but Very Large Array also brings its own sense of precision and expansive, big sky sound to the music. Several tracks here were co-produced with Armand Petrie (10,000 Maniacs, Goo Goo Dolls) and Biff Sanders (Ethyl Meatplow). Standouts include "Magnified," "Submerged," and the glittering yet wistful "Psychedelic Baby." Oh and check out the great po-mo shredding Steve does on "Slow There" too.
m3u audio streams (if the flash player above doesn't work for you): [hifilofi] Play all tracks as an m3u audio stream (or xspf, ogg, mp3 file)
[hifilofi] 01-Magnified (3:56)
[hifilofi] 02-Superdrag (3:59)
[hifilofi] 03-Perfect place (4:38)
[hifilofi] 04-Leisure waltz (2:47)
[hifilofi] 05-Submerge (3:51)
[hifilofi] 06-Favorite tease (3:37)
[hifilofi] 07-Word (3:47)
[hifilofi] 08-Slow there (4:24)
[hifilofi] 09-Look around (3:37)
[hifilofi] 10-Psychedelic baby (4:31)
[hifilofi] 11-Something new (3:42)
[hifilofi] 12-Everything's fine (4:25)