Description
Pacifico is the first full-length album by the American indie pop band The Lassie Foundation, independently released on their own label Shogun Sounds in 1999.
Pacifico was self-released in 1999 and reissued by Grand Theft Autumn in 2000. Pacifico is like Pet Sounds as reinterpreted by My Bloody Valentine. Yearning minor-key melodies and falsetto harmonies are mated with a wall-of-needles guitar style which overlays all the songs with a shoegazer-like miasma of fuzz and feedback. Perhaps surprisingly, the combination works really well. With the vocals mixed well down, the Beach Boys influence remains only an influence, not grounds for a plagiarism suit, and the yearning melodies benefit from the hazy arrangements. The whole album is terrific, but the Apples in Stereo-like «She’s the Coming Sun/She’s Long Gone» and the dreamy «I’ve Got the Rock and Roll for You», with its perfectly deployed “ba-ba-ba” backing vocals and one-note guitar solo, are particular highlights. Any Elephant 6 band would have killed to record this. [Stewart Mason, AMG]
Is it dreamy? Yes. Is it noisy? Yes. Is it rock and roll? The answer to that is a little more tricky. Look inside the dream world of Pacifico and nothing is as it seems on the outside. To begin with, the second full-length collection of songs from The Lassie Foundation is packaged more like a children’s story album than a dream-pop band release. The cover depicts a sad little lion having a thorn pulled from his paw. The opening track sounds at first as if you’ve accidentally picked up the new Joy Electric disc by mistake (oh my), but very soon the band kicks in and you know you’re on solid ground.
Vocalist Wayne Everett was formerly the drummer for the now legendary Prayer Chain. Who knew he could sing and front a band? He’s joined by fellow PC band-mate Eric Campuzano, who trades in his bass for guitar, and the incomparable Frank Lenz on drums. While some listeners might be unfamiliar with the names of the other guys, others will remember Jeff Schroeder (guitars) from early Violet Burning demos and Jason 71 (bass) as Jason Pickersgill who, in his spare time, designs album covers for tons of other Christian alternative rock bands. With a lineup like this, you know you can’t go wrong.
To begin with, you would be better prepared to get this CD if you’ve first heard the Lassie’s debut California. If you enjoy that one, then Pacifico will be less of a surprise. Otherwise, you’ll need to know about Everett’s helium-high falsetto, Campuzano and Schroeder’s hooky guitars, and song titles like «I’ve Got the Rock and Roll for You», «Come On, Let Your Lime Light Shine», and «Kisses as Bounties», which set the tone for what can only be called The Lassie Foundation Experience.
If you’re looking for spiritual content, it’s pretty hard to find. The song «El Rey» (which means “the king” in Spanish) would appear to offer some reference to Christ, but the lyrics simply say “Here she comes, walking right at you,” leaving the title’s reference unclear. The final track, «You Are Infinity», does make a blatant reference to the Almighty with lofty, atmospheric reverence. All the lyrics are inoffensive, and most are of the “Ooo-lala-ooo-lala” category. Still, the Lassie’s are full of audacity, pomp, and a precocious Brit-pop swagger. These songs are just too darn fun to deny! In just one listen you’ll be walking around humming the tune to «She’s the Coming Sun – She’s Long Gone» and «Dive Bomber» which opens with the intriguing lyric, “You’ve got your shields up” and continues throughout the song with various references to Star Trek technobabble-inspired metaphors for lost love and loneliness.
Yes, this is rock and roll; however, it’s dreamy, sugary, pretentious rock and roll unlike any other thing you’ve ever heard. The Lassie’s are certainly influenced by My Bloody Valentine, The Pixies, The Beach Boys, and Starflyer 59, and at times they wear their influences on their paisley sleeves. At other times, they completely defy any and all descriptions. It’s moments like these that make the disc worth mailing off to purchase. This CD is highly recommended for fans of anything on the artsy-end of dream-pop-noise-rock. For now, the only way to purchase this CD is through the band’s official website: http://www.rollanet.org/~johnston/ [Keith Giles, The Phantom Tollbooth, 3/2/99]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/pacifico-remastered/1586525362)
CD tracklist:
01. Scapa Flow – 1:24
02. Dive Bomber – 4:21
03. Crown of the Sea – 4:04
04. She’s the Coming Sun, She’s Long Gone – 3:17
05. Come On, Let Your Lime Light Shine – 3:17
06. El Rey – 4:10
07. The Moon Won’t Let You Wait – 3:34
08. Kisses As Bounties – 3:14
09. I’ve Got the Rock and Roll for You – 4:09
10. Bomber’s Moon – 4:37
11. You Are Infinity – 3:53
Note: Re-issued by Grand Theft Autumn Records on CD (in 2000) and 12-inch vinyl LP (in 2001). As well included on the 2CD-compilation Through and Through released on Northern Records in 2006. Available at Bandcamp: https://lassiefoundation.bandcamp.com/album/pacifico-remastered
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