Mean Red Spiders
Places You Call Home
Teenage USA Records

The baby-blue cover of Places You Call Home says "the new analgesic white sound" and "a natural relaxant"; both of these things describe the album deliciously well. It is white sound, it makes you feel like you are floating. The vocals make me think of Stereolab, and little sounds here and there make me think of Versus. There is a multitude of sounds on each track, each one very gentle and repetitive. The sound sort of engulfs you like water, little elements bubble up around you. This is the debut album from a Toronto band that has been around forever.

Despite the slight crudity of one or two tracks, this album proves that they are talented and ingenious musicians. This is one of those albums should never require an accompanying activity. Just turn it up loud and recline in your seat until you are inside the maelstrom they create. The album gets increasingly vigorous as it progresses so it should not put you to sleep. It is a beautiful and fuzzy, noisy album made in the best tradition of pop music.

Copyright © 1998 Laura Bowman