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Reviews We've Been Lost released 12/07/2004 "The Layaways have the dreamy, drone-y Jesus-and-Mary-Chain Britrock schtick down pat -- not an easy thing for a local band to pull off. This is the CD release party for their latest, We've Been Lost, whose songs will have you gazing at your shoes in blissful content for most of the set." -- Time Out Chicago (Recommended Show) "The greatest value to We've Been Lost? Simply being what all good albums should strive for: A wonderfully crafted recording built around tasteful songwriting and musicianship without sounding heavy handed." -- PopMatters "The Layaways make fine indie pop. Hushed vocals interweave with understated buzzing guitars. The whole LP is a revelation from the start. It reminds of the Radio Dept in that the band seem to have similar musical influences. This isn't retro music though. There is enough new here to make this a very 2005 LP." -- Lostmusic "The Layaways favor a less noisy approach to their brand of moody Indie-pop, preferring to craft swirling melodies with classic Indie-rock changes that appear exactly when they should. Opening track 'Silence' recalls Jesus and Mary Chain the most, and it's by far the most rocking song on the album. It's pretty much perfect, with a hooky chorus that sticks to your brain immediately. As good as 'Silence' and the rest of the songs on 'We’ve Been Lost' are, 'The Answer' is THE song here, and the one that probably will have you stuck to the repeat button for a while. It's gorgeous, dreamy pop with hooks galore and some nice harmony vocals on the chorus that seem to announce that it's summer, you're in love, and everything is right with the universe. Who doesn’t want to feel like that?" -- Indieworkshop.com "...when they get together to write music, it’s magic." -- Somewhere Cold "An untamed growl of guitar noise lays at the heart of this pop confection, like a bit of crunchy frog sealed within succulent Swiss chocolate, as it were. It's a simple song, but the vibe works well for me, a vibe constructed through a combination of an appealing melody and a knowing ability to romp through some of the choicer specimens in rock'n'roll's sonic back catalog: from Jesus and Mary Chain-esque squalls of sound to Yo La Tengo-ish understated vocalizing to (this is the kicker, for me) a Cars-like use of catchy synthesizer riffs." -- Fingertips "The Layaways have the shoegaze and blissful dreampop down the way it should be. They have the elements I previously mentioned of what made the JAMC my favorite band. The one thing impresses me the most is how they find a way to not lose the vocals behind the guitars and bass. If I would have The Layaways earlier, they most likely would have ended up in my 2004 top ten. A must listen if you are into Darklands or 80’s 4AD releases." -- Mystery and Misery More Than Happy released 11/11/2003 "A nice Jesus & Mary Chain-happy Beach Boy vibe comes slipping out here, a little less dark, and a little sparser. The vocals are smooth, yet yearning, and the mix of acoustic guitar with a nicely distorted electric gives the songs a depth that shines through the lightness of the melodies. There's also a beautiful flow of slight shoegazed moodiness that rolls through. I'm thinking The Church, Ocean Blue, Kitchens of Distinction, and then a dash of Elliot Smith...all mixed and buried under a generous helping of darklands and Stoned and Dethroned by the JAMC. These are songs that you want to take home with you, curl up with, hold them close--and pray that they are still with you when you wake up." -- The Big Takeover "...this is brilliant enough for me to want to play on this week's show." -- Richard Milne, WXRT Radio Chicago "Making a purchase on layaway almost seems quaint in this age of ever-expanding credit limits and easy ATM access. Essentially Chicagoan singer/guitarist David Harrell and a few guests (mostly on percussion and harmony vocals), The Layaways also sound like remnants of an earlier time. More Than Happy seethes with various psych pop, new wave and post punk influences; the closest equation I can come up with is The Jesus and Mary Chain minus a lot of distortion. Fortunately, Harrell's pastiches sound charming rather than antiquated, and this album is less a case of trying to spot each influence than trying to keep track of all the hooks." -- Splendid "Want to be the first on your block to know the coolest emerging bands in Chicago? Look beyond the obvious and check out four bands that started beyond the confines of the fashionistas...The Layaways' sound isn't punk; it's new wave -- new wave for 2003, at least, with hints of shoegazer and 1960s garage rock thrown in for good measure." -- Chicago Sun-Times "For those seeking respite in the thoughtful songwriting and pop sensibilities from days gone by, search no further than the Layaways new CD. Tapping into a diverse pool of musical influences, these 12 tracks evoke the spirit of early Beatles, R.E.M., and the best of the Cure..." -- PopMatters.com "The Layaways are a new band from the Chicago area, and they've just come out with an exciting debut album on Mystery Farm Records called More than Happy. The project, which is pretty much the brainchild of David Harrell, comes off as a carefully layered exploration of pop music with an emphasis on guitar and vocal melodies..." -- Left Off the Dial "...when I listen to The Layaways new full-length release More Than Happy it takes me back to those days of Alt Rock bliss. The Layaways bring that kind of New Wave Alt Rock feel into the new millennium with a touch of 60's sensibility." -- South of Mainstream "The Layaways' sound is very current ... in a retro sort of way. Everything '80s is now cool, and Harrell has tapped into that with a sound that's a little bit new wave and a little bit indie shoegazer." -- Daily Southtown "We have a new 'local' CD (local by way of Chicago). A great CD by a band called the Layaways. More Than Happy is the first recording masterminded by David Harrell (who you'll find roaming around Jacksonville every once in a while) doing most of the instruments and vocals. This album is for those of you who couldn't wait for those two hours on Sunday on MTV called 120 Minutes. Not the one hosted by Kennedy, but further back when David 'I wish I was Morrissey' Kendell was hosting. For those who were hip enough back then, you know what I'm talking about. It was all Jesus and Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine...It was mindblowing music, mindblowing innovative videos...nothing like you'd see on MTV today. Anyway, this disc is getting constant play in the store so come on in and check it out." -- Revolution Records, New Releases Newsletter |