REVIEW: Trinket, Trinket (RCA)
- John Davidson
While working on their first album on an independent label in 1993, Trinket had the good fortune of hooking up with Michael Stipe, who not only produced a few songs for the young band, but also advised the band in their early days. Things must have gone pretty well; Trinket has since toured the United States extensively and now find themselves with a debut album for RCA.
Calling themselves "classic rock for the 21st century" is a guess in the right direction. They crackle and rumble under the weight of typical major label production: very polished, solid, catchy tunes that Def Leppard wouldn't be afraid to cover if they were Soundgarden. While tiny college faves such as bands in the Elephant 6 Collective or Vic Chestnutt will always be hipster-preferred, Trinket proves that becoming the next R.E.M. might mean playing straight-up, guitar-pounding pop songs. Though at times derivative in their sound, it's a competent debut that could respectably rise above the alternative pile.
