Looking forward to the new Velocity Girl record? You should be. With their last two albums, they established themselves as more than just another angry, alternachick, waifpop band. Simpatico! was on many critics best-of lists in 1994, mine included, if not just for the song "Sorry Again." However, upon actually listening to the Gilded Stars, you'll find that the vocals are awfully polished. The songs are still poppy and delicious like mom's tuna fish sandwiches, but there's nothing quite as astounding as "Sorry Again" or... any of the other songs on Simpatico! People have to "grow as musicians," I guess. At least, that's what they tell me.

It's not bad, it's not incredible, and it certainly doesn't make me limbo. But hey, these songs are still good. If you really dig Velocity Girl, I've got no bad news for you. You'll love it all the same. But for starters, pick up the old and dig into the new stuff later, alligator. Don't want you kids gettin' no salty opinions.

-Ryan Schreiber