FFWD Weekly
Copyright © 1997. All Rights Reserved.
SWEET 75
S/T
DGC· First post-Nirvana effort from lanky bassist Krist Novoselic.
· Hey! Remember Havana 3 A.M.? The post-Clash project from the lanky bassist of the (then) "Only band that matters"? Of course you don't.
Give Krist Novoselic credit for one thing: his new band, Sweet 75, is one small (very small) step towards snatching back the whole alt rock whatchamacalit out of the hands of pin-ups like Bush's Gavin Rossdale and back into the rightful possession of the truly unattractive. Not only is the world's favorite (funhouse) mirror version of Andy Kaufman back, but we also get a new partner in the bargain, vocalist Yva Las Vegas, who looks like the cross (dressed) love child of Shane McGowan and Poly Styrene. It's gonna be '77 all over again. Right? Er, how about '87?
See, while some critics have called Dave Grohl's Foo Fighters (the other Nirvana guy in case you've been living under a rock) on their lack of lyrical substance, none can deny the big, beefy pop hooks that make it all worthwhile. Unfortunately, there's nothing remarkable about Sweet 75 at all.
Here's a run-down on the innovative work found on the band's eponymous debut: (a) an ironic (enough, enough!) country ditty, "Ode To Dolly," that sounds like one of those Carl Perkins' throwaways that the Beatles used to give to Ringo in the early days, and (b) some lame Latin/lounge/swing featuring Herb Alpert (enough, enough, enough!!).
Fill in the spaces by simply recalling your least favorite local band (in any given city) from 10 years ago - you know, college rock geeks too old to thrash and too self-conscious to rock - and there you have it.
So please forgive the following hackneyed allusion to past glories, but really, really please just Nevermind Sweet 75.
1 out of 5
Zoltan Varadi
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