El GoodoEl GoodoEmpyrean RecordsThree out of five stars
No longer an import, El Goodo’s self-titled debut made its way to the shores of the United States last month, filling minds with a neo-psychedelic tribute to British influences.
Swell, that’s just what we need–another cover band that’s not really a cover band.
Hailing from southern Wales, El Goodo emulates the musical tastes of bands that came before like The Byrds, The Beatles, Super Furry Animals and all the post-punk, guitar-fuzzed, semi-ambient rocker bands of the late ’80s. So, basically what the listener gets is a mixture of slow tempoed, drug-induced acid trips with poppier, hand-clappingly friendly rock.
What’s nice is that El Goodo pulls it off pretty well–not great, but well.
Technically, much of the musicianship in El Goodo is above par, and the subtle variations within each track are welcome. They keep the listener from getting tired or bored. Hence, the replay value is better than average.
There exist only a few instances when, instrumentally, the band goes wayward–one of which is a woodblock beat that comes off as the sound of someone slapping his knees. And who wants that? Andy Griffith? Andy Dick?
Far from becoming a potential staple of anyone’s CD collection, El Goodo comes off as supplementary at best. In other words, to make things clear, Thanksgiving dinner isn’t complete without turkey, rolls, pie, stuffing/dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy and maybe some other things. Think of El Goodo as the absurd vegetable that makes the final cut for some reason–like broccoli or olives. They’re good, and I’d probably eat them, I guess, but I’d always be saving room for something else.
