Garageland
Do What You Want
(Foodchain Records)
Originally released in 1999 by New Zealand's almighty indie, Flying Nun Records, Do What You Want is now receiving its well deserved U.S. release courtesy of Foodchain. Named after the Clash tune, Garageland pushes maddeningly catchy pop-rock similar to that offered by fellow kiwis The Jean-Paul Sartre Experience. Although sugary, and initially appealing in a nearly all-consuming way, the disc reveals itself to be less than satisfying on repeated listenings.
The tunes of Do What You Want are instantly likeable in a manner that is very rarely realized. Nearly every cut plays like a single-to-be (who could resist the urge to whip out the air guitar for these gems?). The difficulty with Do What You Want, however, is that which plagues all good (but not great) pop albums. Garageland spins tunes that grab the listener quickly but eventually lose their grip as nearly everything that they have to offer is heard during the first listening. The tunes are certainly catchy, and the lyrics are definitely not trite, but as their purpose is instant appeal, not prolonged value, the songs of Do What You Want possess very little staying power.
Much like a candy store is to an 8-year-old, Do What You Want initially appears to be the answer to every earthly desire. However, after ingesting greedy portions of the disc's material, the listener--depending on tolerance, of course--may find himself feeling slightly ill.
Although this is certainly not a life-threatening situation, a more conservative approach to consumption is recommended.
--Brian Gettler