For this reviewer, "The View From Above" really burst into life at track eight. It's a cracking version of THE CARS' "Just What I Needed" – the very kind of eighties smart pop-rock anthem that informs a lot of the 2005 independent minded UK chart botherers. It takes a faster lick than THE CARS and the sound is darker and fuller. But it does a pretty euphoric job of not messing up the original. Along the way it helps to place Jeff Burgee's ambitions into context.
Going back from that personal turning point to his own terrific song "Crush Me" at track four we can start to hear a power pop obsessive who lives for good songs done with a rush of excitement and a strong dose of the mournful optimist. "Crush Me" has a big mix, a heartbroken chorus, and some squealing guitars. It takes us through the early part of the album softened up and trembling and into the cunningly rich guitar noises of "I'll Bet". Then there is a slight dip into the pseudo punk of "Surf Anthem for A New Millennium" that sounds longer than its 57 seconds. The climb back starts with chorus effect guitar lines and a steady acoustic strum, some echoey harmonics and (wait for it …) the big minor key ballad in a light voice. The big drums take their time, but they arrive in due course and the wall of sound is built by about four minutes in. The dramatic tension is developing rather well. Only Americans do this. The English don’t have the self confidence to be this openly emotional. Bigger and bigger guitar … a sweet phrase of clean guitar lead, synths piling in all over the place and more and more guitar. As the fade comes we're just about done. "My Eyes" is a six minute 23 second attritional epic. Did someone say power ballad? It wasn't me.
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Then the aural sorbet of "Just what I needed". It chugga chuggas in like the original did and races off int oe ht distance, carrying off all the wounded strays to pop heaven. We're left with "Future Psych" and "Restless in 5th Gear". The one in similar mode to "My Eyes". The other returning to the aggressive guitar lashing of opening song "The Weakest", with a bit of spacey weirdness thrown in at the end. The CD repeat functions shows how neatly the end of that slots back into the pugnacious ness of "The Weakest" with it’s overdriven sound and naggingly repetitive drumming.
COLOR WALL have been around a while. Local FM radio, College gigs and a commercial tie-in have kept the flame burning, and there's no reason why this well-balanced, mature album shouldn’t be in lots of collections. It’s a real pleasure. I bet Bob Harris would like it. The magnificent "Crush Me" passed me by first time through, but somehow, straightened out by that cover, I realised this guy is not even a bit interested in being cool or current or hip He just loves the music. And "Crush Me" is where you can hear it to best advantage.
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