If I blinked while visiting Buffalo, NY in the late '80s, I would've missed the oddball video for THE CUCUMBERS' "My Boyfriend," which was as colorful, innocent, and charmingly weird as new wave got. At the time, "My Boyfriend" seemed retro already, better suited for '81-'83 period MTV than the spandex metal supermarket it had become.
And that was it for the Cucumbers and I.
It was a love affair that lasted less than five minutes, but nearly 20 years later I can't forget the veggies.
Imagine my surprise when I received a new album - on CD, no less! - from the Cucumbers. "Could this be the same group?" I wondered, my eyebrows raised, my heart racing with excitement. Sure enough, the Cucumbers are back, sounding a little older, more rooted in classic country and folk than minimalist jangle pop. Well, all of us age, just a matter of how, and the Cucumbers must dye their graying hairs well. "All Things to You" is a fine example of a group evolving with the needs of their muse. "Happiness" is the only track that reminds me of vintage college radio with that hypnotic, spiraling post-punk riffing.
|
Much of the LP is sweetly crafted American roots rock, quite touching on "Bend Me Like a Window" and "The Warm Sound of Your Voice." Refreshingly coy with pretty harmonies and no-frills instrumentation, the Cucumbers keep it simple and indelible. Ah, I'm in love again! See for yourself at http://www.fictitiousrecords.com.
|
