Elastica - Line Up [ep]

All Music Guide

After one measly outof print, limitededition 7", "Sputter," this threewomen, oneman group's CDsingle debut proves they are worthy of attention outside any dubious, temporal, feedingfrenzy followed by shunningfrenzy scene. Warning: the Bsides, all about a minute and a half, are inconsequential. Nothing against short classics, but "Vaseline," and the Peel Sessions of "Rockunroll" and "Annie" fail to register in their precious seconds other than a more punky Blondie doing throwaway singalongs. But singles aren't judged on Bsides; "Line Up" begins with a nice nod towards '77 Wire (a ripoff of "Lowdown" or "Strange") then settles into a That Petrol Emotiontype Beefheartpop groove with needling guitars, nervousness, and style, leading to the "no no no no" chorus. Frischmann here sounds more convincing, more penetrating, more Pauline Murray or Penelope Houston than Debby Harry. The result is that this could be the start of even greater things to come. - Jack Rabid, The Big Takeover, All Music... Guide Read more Less