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album reviews

Wheat

Hope And Adams 8½ ( 1999 )
This Wheat / Slow Fade / Don't I Hold You / Raised Ranch Revolution / San Diego / No One Ever Told Me / Be Brave / Who's The One / Off The Pedestal / And Someone With Strengths / Body Talk #1 / Body Talk #2 / More Than You'll Ever Know / Roll The Road

I was attracted to the green artwork, to the fact it was co-produced by Dave Fridmann at a time both Mercury Rev and The Flaming Lips were attracting a lot of press here in the UK. Upon buying and listening to the album, I was impressed with the fact it sounded like neither of the aforementioned bands, but still sounded great. I was unimpressed with the lack of media coverage Wheat seem to have attracted. Based on the music we have here, finely crafted songs, they certainly deserve to be heard. Quality music isn't always the music that's shouted the loudest about. The opening two songs have fine textures, they sound wonderfully recorded. It's the third song, 'Don't I Hold You' that really kills me, though. Such a beautiful song with a lovely combination of bass, guitar and keyboards. A delicate touch, delicate, beautiful vocals and lyrics. It's heartbreaking, and so lovely so may just burst into tears. Truly beautiful. 'Raised Ranch Revolution' attracted lazy Pavement comparisons in UK press I read at the time of the albums release. It's better than a good half of any of the songs Pavement ever released. I have a soft spot for 'Slanted And Enchanted'. 'Hope And Adams' sounds little like 'Slanted And Enchanted' by the way, but I have a soft spot for this, too. I like the vocal qualities, i'm big on vocals. I like the bass melodies and sounds and i'm big on those, too.

This is a pretty consistent record, high quality songs throughout. It works as intended, the songs ordered in the order they are presented to you, it also works shuffled and played in random order, a true sign of a good album. Ah, I don't know what to say. 'Roll The Road', for example, just a simple little song lasting just over two minutes, but it's perfectly executed and with a perfect simple little sad melody running through it. 'Body Talk Part Two' has good acoustic work, good lyrics. As with most Wheat songs, it sounds crafted, as if they've got this song-writing lark down as well as they have through both talent and hard work. Leave nothing to chance. Prove yourself. Equal part inspiration and equal part sheer talent. Fifty percent of each and you've got something that ought to be shouted about, even if in this world of ours, it sadly isn't. Oh, 'Body Talk Part Two' is just so beautiful in its perfect simplicity. 'Hope And Adams' is a very real album that you need to hear, and it's as simple as that.

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Wheat return, there return long overdue. They return with Dave Fridmann again co-producing and the same finely crafted songs, but their is a change. They sound happier, the mood and tone of this album is sunshine compared to 'Hope And Adams' overall tone of slight melancholy. The opening 'I Met A Girl' is a fine example of this, a song so happy, so poppy and threatening to burst into pure sunshine beach boys brian wilson fantasy - that it beggars belief. 'These Are Things' joins 'I Met A Girl' early on in the album, wonderful pop music. Wheat have changed their tone for 'Per Second, Per Second, Per Second... Every Second' but continued writing quality material. The bounciness of 'These Are Things' is most enjoyable. This kind of feel continues right through to the close of the album, another consistent album. 'Can't Wash It Off' is another dose of happiness sent straight through your ears, into your heart and into your brain. Highlights all over the place, although I still rate 'Hope And Adams' slightly higher than this effort, because I prefer being sad, then comforted. This album isn't sad, it exudes happiness and perfect pop, in places. Potential summer sensations all over the place, 'Closer To Mercury' sounds like a hit single to me. And anyway, sunshine summer pop? I'm the biggest Beach Boys fan on the planet, if you're gonna attempt that, do it damn well, please? Wheat, to their credit, do. Well, they make a fine attempt.

Do we have moments like 'Hope And Adams'? Yeah, we do. 'The Beginner' has a simple guitar melody that's very attractive, beautiful, lovely. 'Hey So Long' and 'Go Get The Cops' are both more than decent. Wheat deserve your attention and they've made another fine album. The quality of the material isn't quite as high overall as the nearly perfect 'Hope And Adams', but it's still very high, all things told. The switch to summer pop type of songs, which they do well, after the beautiful sadness of 'Hope And Adams' increases my respect for them.

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this page last updated 17/05/07