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They've won respect from members
of Soul Asylum, The Jayhawks and Wilco, and the critics have compared
them to early R.E.M. and Matthew Sweet. With acclaim like that,
The Wonsers have a lot to live up to. But one listen to the groups
latest CD, You never knew me when I was Young, proves the band is
ready to live up to lofty expectations.
Few bands this early in development
write songs that survive such unadorned arrangements, but the Wonsers
have some genuine gems on their list already. The Wonsers' drink-bouyed,
Nick Drake take seems like it could disintigrate, but if these fellows
continue to put together charming, well wrought songs, they can
go as far as they want.
Wicked nice distortion-less Midwest
pop from a brotherly trio that bounce along between the get up and
shake of "Sitting in the Grass" to the sit back and gawk "Martin".
This is as sparse sounding as a guitar, bass, drums core outfit
can get and still have every nook filled with interesting lyrics
and music. And the guest mandolin on "Racecar Driver" will bring
a tear to yer eye. |