Penthouse isn't as entrancing as
Bewitched, since
Dean Wareham is suffering a slight songwriting slump, yet the group's lush, droning guitars remain enchanting, and they're effectively fleshed out by primitive keyboards and strings. None of the songs are that dissimilar from each other, yet the washes of airy melodies and guitars make
Penthouse quite listenable. And the album does feature one terrific bonus track with "Bonnie and Clyde," a cover of a
Serge Gainsbourg and
Brigitte Bardot song performed in French by
Wareham and
Laetitia Sadier of
Stereolab. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine