Mix MagPaste Magazineazine

October 2005

The 88

Over and Over (EMK/Mootron)

88 reasons to believe in the potency of rock

The rehashed movie titles dominating marquees this summer appear to indicate Hollywood is just plain out of ideas. Is the same true in rock 'n' roll? (Twelve notes, fifty years ... you do the math.) Maybe. But The 88 demonstrates how proper execution keeps things sounding fresh. You've probably heard the mostly bouncy tunes on Over and Over before, since they're obviously born of '60s and '70s pop rock. But kudos to frontman Keith Slettedahl for making them sound so simultaneously charming and potent - not to mention showing off an arena-worthy voice that'll stop you dead in your tracks one moment then sing you to sleep the next. - Grant Shellen