AN AMAZING DEBUT ALBUM
R. Lewis | Jersey City, NJ | 07/29/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Solivan & Bernardo, a pair of cowboy junkies, are able to capture the twang of Beggars Banquent & Rubber Soul with the kooky, glistening sounds of Beck, Ween, & Wilco. LAST YEAR'S JUNK musically and lyrically is surely some of the most obtuse pop music to have graced the New York streets.
This is an album powered by melody & by Solivan's amazingly expressive voice. A carefully crafted, inventive mix that defies easy classification. Part rock, part folk, part country, & part blues. There's no one word that encompasses their sound.
The singles MERCURY, NEAR STAR, & BAR CODE are positively some of the catchiest songs of 2004. Unhurried yet never overlong, bouncy yet thoughtful, catchy yet lingering. The listener hasn't got a chance to escape the seemingly endless procession of melodic hooks & vocal gymnastics. In ADELE, Bernardo takes gorgeous turns at lead vocals with Solivan who is the singer & the song.
There are a couple songs that stand out, though, even on a collection as even as this one. PAINKILLER is brilliantly cynical. MR. MESSENGER shows off Bernardo's production panache, & HEADLESS BODY IN A TOPLESS BAR is a luxuriant hymn to unrequited love that's founded on a piano part that meshes with Solivan's guitar to a beautiful effect.
On the albums finale 9 HOURS BACK Solivan's unabashed, emotional honesty conveys anger & sapped energy. This acoustic-based, string touched music feels open enough for a dry wind to blow right through.
There is not an insignificant song on LAST YEAR'S JUNK!! The true beauty of it lies in the multifaceted message it sends. What it is, isn't easily construed. The only way to truly put your soul finger on it is to listen to LAST YEAR'S JUNK' again, again, & again. Each time will reveal a new aspect of this incredibly sincere debut. A band with their finger on the pulse & with the direction to take you there!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
"
If you buy this CD you'll still be playin' it years from now
Adrienne McNicholas | Zaragoza, Spain | 10/06/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I've seen White Mud Freeway live a few times when visiting NYC. Having the CD lets you play tunes over and over and continue to discover the humour and the "smarts" that this band puts into their music. The lyrics are outstanding and the layers of influences in the music make it an album that you will not tire of... If you get the chance to see them live, GO!"
Fantastic album, never grow tired of hearing it
George A. Ramos | Montreal, Quebec | 09/03/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I knew nothing about this band when I ordered their CD a few years ago, I'd just heard a track on some animated clip I'd watched. Since then this has become one of my favorite CDs. It sounds fresh and complex each time I hear it, the melodies and grooves stick in your head, and overall it's really an amazing album. How to describe it? It's tough, but mix modern beats, rock guitar (acoustic and electric) with the occassional country twang and you'll get an idea. It feels like the Beatles: fresh inspiration wrapped up in melodies that haunt. Enjoy!"
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1