Moth & Rust Artist: The Miscellaneous Label: Gray Dot Records Tracks/Time: 10 tracks/40:58

Swedish rockers The Miscellaneous has released their first album aimed at the North American market. While their previous album, All Good Weeds Grow Up, had a decent amount of success in Europe before US-based Gray Dot picked them up, there was very little promotion. The group doesn't tour much in North America and the sales of the album, while respectable, were weak.

But this is a band that wants another chance. The Misc. (as they call themselves) has had nearly three years to work on their new material, and it comes across rather well. Stef Loy's lead vocal work is very reminiscent of Derri Daugherty (The Choir) and Todd Olsen (The Waiting), possessing the same vocal timbre and tone qualities that a hybrid of those two would produce. The influence of both groups is readily heard in the music. The female lead vocalist, Sooi Groenveld, brings to mind vocalists such as Tess Wiley and Riki Michele. These aren't the only musical references; there are strong similarities to groups like Sixpence None the Richer and Driver Eight. Their sound is best described as guitar-dream-pop, but without the layering usually
associated with this style, resulting in very accessible, radio-friendly pop-rock. Along with the tight, listenable musical package are some fairly strong lyrics. The song that, for me, makes the whole album in this respect, is "Crumbs.”

It's all about the towers of babble
The clattering of metal in the gym
It's the endless pursuits in sugar substitutes
Dodging the wages of sin
It's all about the power of cable
And bipeds walking on the web
It strolls down the cat walks, and in our self talk
Crumbs of flesh lie in our beds
And it's miles from who you are.

If there's anything that somewhat bothers me about this album, it's that it does sound a little dated, as though they've finally hit their stride with a classic guitar-pop sound that is on its last legs. Nonetheless, they do a fine job with it. If they can continue to do this sort of album, it's worth being a little out of the trends to listen to it.

Alex Klages 9/16/99

The Miscellaneous second release on Grey Dot has no sophomore slump. This Swedish alternative band rocks from start to finish. Trading vocals are Stef Loy and Sooi who both have fine rock alternative voices that keep the energy up, even when the song drags a little, and a couple of the songs near the end of the CD do drag a little. The band has written some good songs in the few years between releases. The record starts off with a spacey rocker called “Bug.” The song rocks with echoing drum beats and driving guitars. The records lyrics hit the cute, and yet crafty mark most of the way, too. Most of the record is hard pop/alternative music that keeps a well-done balance of clever song writing and fine performance. Keep this one out of the closet, where moth and rust might get to it, and in the CD tray.

Tony LaFianza 04/09/2000