Straw's Shoplifting was truly one of the gems of late-1990s Britpop. While the British sound had more or less turned its back on pop music (with mainstream artists like Blur shunning their pop roots for more experimental territory), it's refreshing to hear a band as unpretentious and shamelessly poppy as Straw. From the opening notes of "Dracula Has Risen From the Grave," it's obvious that this album is all about fun sound clips from old movies and video games, which abound on the album from start to finish. "Weird Superman" and "The Aeroplane Song" are catchy, if somewhat conventional, anthems, while the searing "Wake Up (Miss Venezuela)" is good disco-pop. Part of the true magic in Shoplifting, however, is its depth. Straw may be a pop band, but they aren't superficial. Tender, emotional moments like "Kill Your Boyfriend" and "We Don't Belong" show that this band has a lot more to offer than just shiny pop tunes; they go deeper, and this disc is one that's worth diving into.
© Jason Damas /TiVo