The Orange Peels' first album,
Square, survived a convoluted birthing process that involved multiple studios, name changes, label hijinks, and main
Peel Allen Clapp shifting the project from a four-track solo venture to a full band experience. Much like the
Allen Clapp solo collection that preceded it, One Hundred Percent Chance of Rain, the songs here are near-perfect combinations of
Beatles-y hooks,
Byrds-ian guitar jangle, and the innocent excitement of C-86 bands. Working with a live combo in a nice studio, the sound is richer and the arrangements are full of organs, percussion, big vocal harmonies, and a nice warm reverb coating. It makes for a lovely example of the beauty that can occur when songs this pristine and heartfelt are played with subtle power and captured with just the right mixture of frills and power.
Square is undoubtedly one of the best indie pop albums of the era, and it establishes
Clapp as one of the more original and striking writers around. Tracks as lilting and sweet as "On the Way to Somewhere" or "I Don't Mind the Rain" are as pretty as
McCartney ballads, the chugging "Get It Right" sounds like vintage
Todd Rundgren and brings some bass-heavy rock into the mix, "Take Me Over" shows off some garage rock-y roots, and there are a couple of songs that should be considered indie pop classics. "Something Strange Happens" and "Love Coming Down" are two perfectly written jangle pop songs that
Let's Active or
the Weather Prophets would have killed to have written; the openhearted lyrics,
Clapp's winningly pure vocals, and the band's powerfully restrained playing combine to make them something special. The whole album is just that -- a rare case where everything works, and while the individual parts are each important, the sum is so much greater.
Square comes along at a time when the world is just escaping the grunge cloud, and it's a nice summation of the kind of indie pop that came before as well as a strong indicator that all the flannel and beards could never wipe out the joy to be gained from hearing a nice pop song played with enthusiasm and steady-handed skill. ~ Tim Sendra