South San Gabriel

"The Carlton Chronicles: Not Until the Operation's Through"
(Misra)

I thought I liked this record, but now that I've had to think about what I want to tell you righteous people about "The Carlton Chronicles: Not Until the Operation's Through," I think that I don't. How sad.

"The Carlton Chronicles" is a concept record. About a sick cat. I like cats. Concept records ... not too often. At least the cat doesn't play pinball.

South San Gabriel, the more-popular-in-Europe spinoff group from shambling Texas indie rockers Centro-matic, fuses aspects of quiet folk/Americana strumming with the even slower atmospheric textures of bands like Low and Codeine, bands whose names at least tell you what you're getting into.



Though South San Gabriel is still playing in the indie leagues, one of the songs ("The Dark of Garage") suddenly breaks out into an electro-pop beat reminiscent of the Postal Service. The whole thing smacks of a bossman begging them to come up with "a hit, just gimme a single I can work at radio!"

Then there's "Stupid Is As Stupid Does," the title of which will be familiar to anyone who's seen "Forrest Gump." This whole record is such a tragically bad idea that it might sound like a classic 30 years from now. If that happens, we'll enjoy it then.

South San Gabriel made a record a couple of years ago called "Welcome, Convalescence." It's real pretty. Skip this one; this cat doesn't need you.