Julie Ocean's debut album "Long Gone and Nearly There" broke into the CMJ top 200 at the #107 position.
Critics continue to rave about Julie Ocean's new albums: Big Takeover: Jack Rabid made "Long GOne and Nearly There" #12 on his top 40 list. "Julie Ocean Long Gone and Nearly There Transit of Venus We could tell you that this foursome is led by early ‘90s D.C. indie-pop sovereigns, guitarist/singers Jim Spellman (High Back Chairs, Velocity Girl) and our own Terry Banks (St. Christopher, Tree Fort Angst, Saturday People, Glo-Worm with Pam Berry of Shins-song fame). We could note they took their name from a 1981 U.K. #41 Undertones Positive Touch hit. A mag is supposed to give info and context"especially about its own writers. But what this sounds like is a gang of college-age kids on espresso! 10 songs in 25 minutes"four of them shorter than two minutes"are sleeve clues to this breathless up-tempo thick guitar pop. But it doesn’t tell you it’s also cleanly recorded, loud, brash, and endlessly sugar-melodic. Long Gone hasn’t time to wallow in salad days nostalgia; it drags a lost art form to the present, shot full of Brit greats like TV21 (especially!!!) and similar primo 1980 work by the So Far Away Chords, Setting Sons Jam, “What Do You Know” Buzzcocks, and yes Hypnotized Undertones. (Not Positive Touch!) Add in thicker C86 bands like Razorcuts, Wedding Present, and Primitives, and you have the best record of this type since The Rifles No Love Lost (think “Local Boy”). This crackin’ pop jumps out of speakers with verve, confidence, and tunes a plenty; just for the superb “Complications” (track 7!?!)), Long Gone is the bomb, and there’s nine more backing it up. Talk about short but sweet: get in, do your business, get out… and rock! -- Jack Rabid" ------------------------------------------------------------------ Jambase raves for Julie Ocean Julie Ocean: Long Gone And Nearly There By: Dennis Cook If rock radio were actually a measure of talent, hooks and sheer likeability you'd already know about Julie Ocean. Like a number of fabulous but under-appreciated candy-coated power pop units - The dB's, Splitsville, The Velvet Crush and The Sneetches spring immediately to mind " this is under-a-half-hour bit o' shake 'n' bounce picks up the baton of Rubber Soul-era Beatles and other handclap driven, "wooo-woo-woo" packed '60s greats. Long Gone And Nearly There (Transit of Venus) gets things done in around two-minutes in most cases, leaving bobbing heads and grinning faces in their wake. It's so catchy, good natured and eager to please; looking so cute in their brand new suits, and singing the boy band blues (contrary to their lady's moniker, this is four dudes), knowing every "#1 Song" is just a temporary state of bliss. Real success is smart, well crafted music that endures charts and changing fashions, and Julie Ocean is making strides where it counts. JamBase | Worldwide Go See Live Music! http://www.myspace.com/julieoceandc [Published on: 6/3/08] |
Long Gone and Nearly There
Just because a CD will hold 80 minutes of music doesn’t mean it should! Ten songs totaling just over 25 minutes in length, the debut album from D.C.-based quartet Julie...
