Do you miss the late 1960s? Do you miss the
Byrds? How about early R.E.M.?
If you do, then step over here to the best-band-you've-never-heard-of department, where we're featuring Jimmy Silva and the Goats, an obscure group comprised entirely of musicians unknown outside of the Pacific Northwest. Like most of the unknown artists whose albums have been given a second chance on the East Side Digital label, they deserve wider recognition. "Quirky" and "jangly" may have been the two most overused terms in the critical lexicon at the time this disc was released, but both are perfect to describe Silva's derivative yet highly enjoyable brand of melodic pop. All of it is fairly well-produced and tightly constructed guitar rock; "City of Sisterly Love" and "On Every Page" really do recall early R.E.M., which is just fine, thanks. Silva's singing is good enough, if not spectacular, and the eight-track production is just grungy enough to sound sincere. Nothing on this album will change the world, but it might convince you that the world's a nicer place than you thought it was. ~ Rick Anderson