Elastica

Back in their native England, Elastica has been tagged as part of a briefly hyped "New Wave
of New Wave," and that actually gives you a pretty fair idea what you're in for with this
solid if not exactly groundbreaking debut effort. Elastica consists of three women and one
man -- guitarists and singers Justine Frischman and Donna Matthews, bassist Annie Holland
and drummer Justin Welch. Their sound suggests what Chrissie Hynde and Debo... More >

Punk-pop as self-consciously noncanonical market ploy, wound tight as a methedrine high. The Buzzcocks weren't deep, Wire wasn't deep, but these sassy London girls are shallow on principle, accentuating the desperation of a fun they refuse to grant any emotional resonance. I love their bright, tough veneer and hectic sexuality. I'll happily get juiced on their quick charge. And I can imagine myself discarding them without a second thought. After all, they're asking for it. (Grade: A-)