It's been years and years since rock music was still important and had great relevance. Artists were not pop bunnies who sang with computer voices, but stars with guitars, poets, explainers of the world.
Melodies for millions - not all of them made a noise 30 years ago. Today we're listening to the Lemonheads' CD "Come on Feel" again.
Since their last record "It's a shame about Ray", the melodic punk of the Bostonians around Evan Dando had transformed into the most charming reincarnation of sixties pop in the spirit of the Byrds, much to the dismay of their early fans. Life couldn't be so pretty and harmless.
Evan Dando also recognized this, which is why “Come on Feel” has become a more complex pleasure. Although still permeated by a carefree niceness, the thirteen entertaining songs on this album offer more emotional variations than the legendary grin of their author and singer reveals.
The recordings are said to have been traumatic at times, Dando escaped from the pressure of success into the hypocritical world of drugs, and "Come on Feel" speaks of these and other insecurities.
Dando is not Kurt Cobain, but his lovable songs are also about loneliness and everyday drama, small catastrophes and medium-sized feelings. The stylistic devices are country, folk, guitar pop and a last remnant of the punk past, no news. The unique thing about the most coherent Lemonheads record to date is the natural ease with which each of their pop pearls settles into your mind, as if a place had always been reserved for them.