REVIEW: Superkreme, Superkreme (Acme Entertainment)
- Franklin Johnson
Co-lead vocalists Matt Sobol (formerly from the Waynes) and Susan Rasch offer a two-tiered listening treat on the Superkreme self-titled debut release. When Sobol grabs the mike, especially on the standout "I'll Be Around", images of Matthew Sweet and Michael Penn and incredibly enough, an alternative version of James Taylor ("Letter Goes Nowhere") - will immediately leap to mind. But when Rasch steps to the forefront, a poppier version of L7 and Chrissie Hynde ("Dream Girl") appears in the rear-view mirror. So, purchasers of Superkreme get, in effect, two nearly-different standout EPs for the cost of one album.
Produced by Mitch Easter, astute listeners will instantly think back to the mid-80s sound of college-rock forefathers such as the db's and Let's Active and wonder how much Easter's production credits (R.E.M., Pavement, Velvet Crush) had to do with the band's infectious hooks. Others may just think this is what Matthew Sweet could have done in between Girlfriend and Altered Beast . However, the most likely outcome after a listen to Superkreme ? Another spin in the turntable, and an amazement that the Cleveland-based band wasn't snared up by a major label's A&R department.
For more information on Superkreme, check out the band's website at http://www.superkreme.com
