Reviewed by Mike Z.
Strawberry Weed forever? That’s overstating the case, but this is still a great disc. The first track, “Fool’s Parade” bears comparison to early R.E.M., but is thankfully not nearly as morose. The following cut, “Waking Up” begins simply, and even though it gathers a nice head of steam, the chorus “That’s alright/ I’m alright/ ‘Cause I can see, I can see baby, we can do whatever/ We are free to go, we are free to go wherever” stays firmly within the genre. Track 3, “Boo Boo Goo Goo” best exemplifies melodic rock. I swear I wrote a song in eigth grade with the same chord progression. The lyrics are simpler than even anything I essayed, yet this tune has a great hook and deserves a listen. At this point it is good to note that none of this material will send you scrambling for your good earbuds. The lyrics are all discernable and I am certain that this Swedish act does not include a single word with more than two syllables in it. This is a party disc and doesn’t try too hard. The effect is mostly sublime. The title track examines the poppier side of The Caesars, with an opening reminiscent of The Cure and a chorus possibly influenced by Love and Rockets. The middle parts of Strawberry Weed showcase The Caesar’s knack for airy harmonies and sweet lyrics that don’t stand out too much. “No Tomorrow” borrows from “Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues”, if you can believe it. The only reason I point out all of the influences is to stress that The Caesars have an eclectic sound and considering there’s only so much you can do with a pop song’s structure, they have the good sense to borrow from the best. None of their material is derivative, however. They have an ability to make each song their own. Those of you with keen memories might remember that The Caesars had a song featured in a commercial for the first iPod Shuffle. That song is not on Strawberry Weed, and that’s a good thing, because it is a poor representation of their abilities. The songs on this disc are much more hard-driving and none of the goofy instrumentation is there, either. There is also available a 2 disc expanded version of Strawberry Weed, but I have not listened to it.
My Space | itunes | Insound (2 disc version) | Not Lame
Listen to “No Tomorrow”