Starbag
Self Titled (CD)
 The Shmat was not such a big fan of the first song on Starbag's CD. For some reason, it seemed just too mainstream-ish in light of the rest of the songs on the album. But perhaps this was done on purpose, due to the old adage of putting your most accessible song first on an album. The Shmat won't count them out because of that; it was just a little bit too over the top standard for him with the G 'n C guitar chucks in the background and Clint Meyers jamming his vocals into the verses. Maybe that's their El Paso background kicking in.
However, on the second tune, "Everyone Is On The Moon", Starbag settles back for a spacey ride through shoegaze villas. It sounds like New Jersey's F.M. Cornog getting lost or drunk admist broken-down, backwoods bars in dusty desert towns. This is the type of song that the Shmat digs: accessible in the melodies and yet strange and elusive in overall presentation. Pensive, but not whining, Meyers ekes out messages of comfort and release. "I'm So Tired" and "So Long, Farewell" switches gears to more of a country groove reminiscient of Wilco with just a bit of "God Only Knows" from the Beach Boys thrown in for good measure. There's a very nice pedal steel on these tracks and a few others.
Starbag's dossier notes that listeners may find certain of their musical characteristics similar to HHBTM labelmates Birddog and this is indeed the case on a few songs. But the Shmat thinks they choose to remain just slightly less bleak than Bill Santen's bunch can get. "Take It From Here" moseys in quietly, sounding all ghosted out and funky. The friendly, back-porch creepiness is somewhat similar to the way Sparklehorse will hit you in the gut. Echoing vocals and droning guitar lines made this track another favorite of the Shmat's.
Is Texas really that much more strange than the other 50 states? Well, perhaps it is, since the Texans in Starbag have presented the Shmat with quite a tasty mixed bag of eclectic goodies.
- review by SHMAT (8.22.03)
Happy Happy Birthday To Me
P.O.Box 1035
Panama City, Florida 32402
starbag@indiemail.com
www.bigweirdnormal.com/starbag/starbag.html
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