Brando

Purportedly (and paradoxically) a 24-song EP, Instantly Spaceships and Every 16 Years Old Guide by Bloomington, IN, rockers Brando compiles a slew of unreleased material. The first 12 tracks (the "Instantly Spaceships" section) consist of material recorded in 2000 and 2001 for an as-yet-unreleased independent film, while the latter half represents material that primary member Derek Richey dug up from the mid-'90s. The nature of the project makes it clear that this is not a good starting point for the uninitiated. The release is packed with tunes that troll the post-Pavement, post-Sebadoh indie rock waters, swinging from instrumentals to spare, glacial-paced musings ("Zimmerman's Last Cigar") to hiss-tinged lo-fi -- none of which is to say that the CD is without its strong points. Nevertheless, in order to fully appreciate the merits of this solid combo (whose lineup has become somewhat scattered due to relocations and marriages), new listeners should seek out more cohesive releases, such as Adder or Peacocks on Linen. ~ Erik Hage, All Music Guide