The Mood Swings - Come On Tell Me (CD)

All Music Guide

Minneapolis poppunk trio the Mood Swings debut with Come On Tell Me, a nearperfect mix of bratty garage rock pouting and sweet pop melodies. Singerguitarist Sallie Watson's voice recalls the Muffs' Kim Shattuck in her ability to switch smoothly between fulltilt rockers like "In A Pinch" and catchier tunes like the exhilarating "Hey" and the keyboardspiked power pop of "Stir it Up," which compare favorably to the Bangles' early garagefolk incarnation before 1980s production techniques and outside writers smothered all their originality. The punkier tunes are in more of a Ramones/Undertones '60supdate mode than the glam/metal end of the style, "Finest Line" and "Knocked Down" being the best examples here. The only qualm comes from the tinny, lofi production that does the songs no favors. Bassist Ashley Prenzlow in particular should be annoyed at how invisible her parts are in the mix. That aside, Come On Tell Me is an entertaining slice of unpretentious, spunky power pop. - Stewart ...Mason, All Music Guide Read more Less