The SinglesBetter Than Before (Rainbow Quartz)(Three stars out of five)Detroit four in better-than-average powerpop revival.Initially, The Singles' Merseybeat chords are as deathly predictable as their Beatlesy matching black suits. That debut album title also begs tobe mocked. How could these songs have been penned after 1966? But when they dispose of what they must believe are their aces, Better Than Before is suddenly, almost miraculously, better than what came before. Starting with It'll Never Be the Same Again, there's a devotion to the kind of svelte, pummelling guitars and drum-roll momentum that destinguished The Buzzcocks.
The chief Single Vincent Fredrick's bottom lip starts to tremble, andthe believability quotient soars. Likewise, He Can Go, You Can Stay rises above it's formulaic structure, Come On is pure streamlined euphoria and an angst-riddled Waited So Long is the finale this record deserves. TheBuddy Holly copy, See You Again, underlines what must be junked beforeunfettered joy is theirs.

- Martin Aston, Mojo magazine