The Lassie Foundation
El Rey EP
(Shogun/Anisette)

     When reviewing a band like the Lassie Foundation, it's important not to resort to using tired clichés like “retro,” “trippy,” or “groovy.”  This band just deserves better than that.
The Lassie Foundation, comprised of five Yorba Linda indie rockers, specializes in blending rich, tonal guitars, rolling bass lines, and rollicking beats with dreamy falsetto vocals.  The sum of the parts is equal to an extremely enjoyable band that writes timeless songs to boot.
     El Rey, the Foundation's most recent release, is a six-track (plus one bonus instrumental) collection that features some new songs, as well as tunes from their past couple of records.  Oh, and it's a damn fine disc too.  Each song can stand alone as a micro-masterpiece, but the group holds together as a body with great effect also.
     Musically, El Rey is a unique gem.  “Conquer Me” and “I Can Be Her Man” bristle with hooks and toss off melodies as if they're going out of style.  The title-track proves that the Foundation has got that jangly guitar-pop thing tied down.  Wah-drenched guitar leads permeate the EP to add just enough off-kilter weirdness to satiate the Pixies fans out there.  Furthermore, the group really seems to understand the forgotten value of tambourines in rock songs.
     For the most part, the lyrics are fairly upbeat, remaining positive without sounding cheesy.  Many of the tunes, like “The Promise Ring,” extol the virtues of love in an innocent, easy-going way that makes you feel warm inside.  However, sometimes the light-hearted melodies hide more somber messages.  In “I'm Stealin' To Be Your One In A Million,” crooner Wayne Everett laments, “I know that when you dream it's not of me/ I'm the serf, you're the queen.”
     Before even the first song ends, though, you'll realize that the most recognizable and endearing quality of El Rey is Everett's delectable voice.  Let's face it, the man can hit those notes that are usually far out of the ranges of mere mortal men.  Nowhere is this, made more painfully clear than on the disc's highlight, “Crown of the Sea.”  The melodies are powerful enough to destroy the impure, so listen not if your heart be rife with malice.
     Overall, El Rey will appeal to fans of imaginative, atmospheric pop, and lovers of great songs everywhere. This disc comes highly recommended.

By Casey Lombardo
Long Beach Union

Originally printed 5.8.00

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