 Cocteau Twins Cocteau Twins "went pop" on Blue Bell Knoll, as much as the word "pop" can legitimately be applied to their music. The pure loveliness of "Carolyn's Fingers," "For Phoebe's Still a Baby" and "A Kissed Out Red Floatboat" make this disc the one I point people to who are curious about the band. Not quite as "VH1" as Milk & Kisses, nor as "120 Minutes" as Heaven or Las Vegas, this album is a solid middle ground between the earlier, more harrowing stuff and the later, more luscious stuff. Which is not to say it's entirely accessible in any kind of mainstream way … with song titles like "The Itchy Glowbo Blow" and "Suckling the Mender," they were hardly selling out. The album still has plenty of the darker hallmarks that made Treasure so amazing, but not so much of the vibe that you've just leapt off the edge of the world. Perhaps the real drums make things seem less paranoid, or maybe it's the glistening jangle of the guitar tones that make this one seem so happy … maybe it was impossible for this band to avoid becoming lush. But that's a relative idea anyway, I mean, the album is kinda samey, but it's hardly Sade.
Review by Jubie Jenkins |