Often passed over in the
the High Llamas' canon (even the liner notes of the reissue go out of their way to reassure that things are a little rough), 1992's
Santa Barbara is nevertheless an important formative record that will please and interest many admirers of the band. There's an emphasis on pre-acid house English pop ("Market Traders"),
Out of Time-era
R.E.M. ("Put Yourself Down"), and an orchestral touch that would reappear later in albums like Cold and Bouncy. "Period Music" pokes out with verses lifted from
XTC and a closing, layered, almost dream pop refrain, but non-fans may wonder about the band's bored and serious approach toward Byrds-ian acoustica. ~ Dean Carlson