Retro sounds seem to go hand in hand with the majority of rock bands circa the early 21st century, and Colonel Knowledge & the Lickity-Splits are certainly no different. Possessing a heavy late-'60s garage rock vibe (
? & the Mysterians, to be exact), this Athens, GA, quartet have it down pat -- from blaring Farfisa organ to lo-fi production -- although, interestingly, Tim Schreiber's vocals bring to mind
Elvis Costello (circa his
Armed Forces days) at times. As stated in its liner notes, Colonel Knowledge's 2005 release,
Fall in Love All Over Again With, was recorded entirely on a vintage Tascam 688 eight-track (which utilizes good ol' cassettes) in the group's "living rooms, bedrooms, and practice spaces." And after listening to such tracks as "Someday There Will Come a Time," "Delightfully," and "I Just Want Somebody (To Get With)," it's hard not to feel nostalgic for The Ed Sullivan Show, ten-cent hamburgers, miniskirts, and convertibles. But while
Fall in Love All Over Again With is a fun listen, it appears as though the group spent more time focusing on replicating the sounds of "96 Tears" and "Louie Louie" rather than trying to write memorable, singalong anthems custom-made for a toga party. ~ Greg Prato