The Buffalo, NY, group
Last Conservative play fairly straight-ahead, unchallenging modern rock fueled by nervy cloudbursts of guitar. It's not surprising that fellow Buffalonian Robby Takac of
the Goo Goo Dolls has produced for
Last Conservative and currently owns their label, because the band definitely aims toward the same radio-friendly rock waters that
the Goos hit on late in their career. For the most part,
Pretty New Things is charged with big and bold (yet not unappealing) "love rock" flourishes -- often lyrically anemic, yet with something likable shining through the cracks even when
Last Conservative are at their most clichéd. "Little Flame," a great slab of sunshine rock, is highly melodic and charged, while the pummeling guitars punctuated by quieter interludes of "Don't Touch Me" summon up
the Goo Goo Dolls' better side. Ultimately -- all obvious gestures aside -- there is something earnest and appealing about
Last Conservative, and some solid songwriting as well. ~ Erik Hage