Search - Minders :: Cul-De-Sacs & Dead Ends

A non-stop string of would-be pop hits

Jonathan J. Casey | the twin cities | 12/23/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"While I was disappointed with their recent "Down In Fall" EP, this collection is a great pop record through-and-through. "Build" kicks it off perfectly with an affected British accent. Most everything on here is fast, short, and eminently hummable. "Almost Arms" is more gentle and bouncy, "Paper Plane" sends me running to my guitar everytime I hear it, and "Now I Can Smile" picks it up when you didn't think things could get any more lively. Yes, this is teeming with 60's influecnes, but it isn't quite as backward looking as the Apples in stereo "Strawberry Fire" or The Essex Green...there's a little more of a turn-of-the-century friskiness to The Minders. "Cul-De-Sacs" is an extremely catchy, energetic collection of songs, and you'll hardly notice the difference between this and a more "proper" album. Pop lovers unite, and rejoice! Here is your salvation."

The Collection is Together

Thomas P Gallagher | Denver, CO | 02/22/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Normally, when a band puts out a collection of earlier singles you expect it to sound disjointed and choppy. This Minders release however sounds like a well-thought-out preview of their release "Hooray for Tuesday". The collection of singles, carefully strung together, make a fantastic, elastic pop record all its own. Particularly, "Now I Can Smile" and "Build" sound like they could have come off the "Tuesday" release. Note: Hello Editors - The Minders should be listed on Amazon's Essential Artists under Elephant 6."

Good Collection

thedevilscoachman | Vienna, Virginia | 12/07/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a strong collection of songs, very much in the Elephant 6 60's-revival style, but still pretty unique. The production sounds both DIY (most songs were recorded on 4 track) and full, with lots of little psychedelic quirks to enjoy on repeated listenings. The melodies often slip someplace you don't hear them going in advance. And the singer's got an excellent rock voice - kind of Lennon-y. It took me a couple of listens to get totally into it (especially a lot of the mid-tempo songs towards the end of the disk) but I unqualifiedly recommend it to other people, who, like me, think the world could always use more good '60's pop."