Services For The Soon To Be Departed

Services For The Soon To Be Departed
from Alternative Press, September, 1997

Whetting the taste buds with a pleasant appetizer of '60s garage pop, Kurt Heasley's Lilys toss off a short set of six songs to follow up last year's critically acclaimed Better Can't Make Your Life Better. While a little short on substance (clocking in at just over a moment of fame by Warhol standards), there are plenty of hints of Heasley1s fine melodic sense in the quirky, organ-led arrangements. Opening with "Hark, An Open Channel," Heasley1s tenor is joined by joyous Beach Boy as it bounds on its way followed seamlessly by the snappy charm and rolling changes of "The Energy Channel." But there1s enough missing to leave you dissatisfied. "The First Half Second", a flower-power rave-up, is marred by a pegged vocal in the production, and the best track on the album, "Pookah", led by chugging toms, ends after just 48 seconds. Heasley throws in a forgettable ambient organ track and a slow, dreamy slice of psychedelica ending in a droning riff anccented by tambourine that recalls his early days channeling My Bloody Valentine. Whatever. Not entirely satisfying, but even on its own terms, there1s still enough here to make you curious for Lily's next release. (Primary/Che/Elektra)-C.G. Parker