Spiv

Crunchy power pop is the name of the game on Spiv's Don'tcha Know?. And despite the terrible cover art, Spiv puts together one of the most raucous and downright insidiously grooving records of the genre. Sure there's the right amount of Big Star here, but unlike bands who just follow in the footsteps of the great Alex Chilton and Chris Bell, Spiv seems to share the same influences, and then piles a few more on top. Spiv calls it "Brit-pop voodoo" -- with the spirit of the Who ("Not For Years"), the Beatles, the Jam, and the Clash all making appearances. There are a few weak tracks, like the slightly goofy "Everybody's a Rock Star Tonight," but they are overshadowed by otherwise tight, propulsive songwriting -- the self-explanatory "Beatley," the Momus-meets-Pulp "VIPs of the Street," and the Elliott Smith-esque "Seedy Release" -- that Don'tcha Know? should be a welcome addition to any record collection. ~ Charles Spano, All Music Guide