Answer the Phone, Dummy

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Answer the Phone, Dummy
Answer the Phone, Dummy.jpg
Studio album by
Fastbacks
Released1994
Genre Alternative pop
Label Sub Pop [1]
Producer Kurt Bloch
Fastbacks chronology
Zücker
(1993)		Answer the Phone, Dummy
(1994)		Alone in a Furniture Warehouse
(1996)

Answer the Phone, Dummy is an album by the American band Fastbacks, released in 1994. [2] [3] The band supported the album with a North American tour. [4]

Contents

Production

The album was produced by Kurt Bloch, who also wrote the songs. For the first time in their career, Fastbacks were able to record an album in a single studio, from beginning to end. [5] The band used six different drummers during the recording sessions for Answer the Phone, Dummy. [6]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [7]
Chicago Tribune Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [8]
Daily Breeze Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [9]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [10]
Spin Alternative Record Guide 7/10 [11]

Trouser Press wrote that, "between the ganged-up female vocals and the raggedy, surging electric sound, the Fastbacks here resemble a looser-limbed Breeders." [12] Greil Marcus, in Artforum , thought that, "as always, the smallest incidents of memory or present-day this-’n’-that rush forward with a sense of fate and consequence, practical joke and tragedy, puzzlement and wonder." [13] The Chicago Tribune stated that "bassist Kim Warnick and guitarist Lulu Gargiulo are the primary vocalists, and they bring a diehard optimism to even Bloch's most plaintive laments ... Fastbacks deliver fashion-resistant songcraft straight out of the Buzzcocks/Ramones school of pop thrills." [8]

The Times Colonist called the album "an off-centre, modern pop song cycle that is barbed with lyrical and sonic hooks," writing that "Warnick and Gargiulo's garage sale harmonies have an unpretentious, cheesy charm." [14] The Vancouver Sun determined that, "with thrash, crash and some careful guitar musicianship, the band plays solid 'alternative' fare with a healthy dose of humor." [15] The Daily Breeze concluded that "the band has found ways to upgrade its musical proficiency while losing none of its freshness." [9]

AllMusic wrote that, "while Kurt Bloch wrote a batch of great tunes (as usual), this set lacks a certain aural cohesion the pacing is inconsistent, with the album sometimes struggling to maintain a steady momentum." [7]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Kurt Bloch.

No.TitleLength
1."Waste of Time" 
2."On the Wall" 
3."Went for a Swim" 
4."Old Address of the Unknown" 
5."Back to Nowhere" 
6."BRD 'Coated'" 
7."I Found the Star" 
8."And You" 
9."On Your Hands" 
10."I'm Cold" 
11."T.H.I.N.K." 
12."In the Observatory" 
13."Trumpets Are Loud" 
14."Meet the Author" 
15."Future Right" 

References

  1. ↑ Cooper, Kim; Smay, David (July 8, 2005). Lost in the Grooves: Scram's Capricious Guide to the Music You Missed. Routledge. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  2. ↑ Weisbard, Eric (February 1995). "Spins". Spin. Vol. 10, no. 11. p. 78.
  3. ↑ Cogan, Brian (2006). Encyclopedia of Punk Music and Culture. Bloomsbury Academic. p. 73.
  4. ↑ Norman, Tony (February 24, 1995). "Seattle Speed". Arts & Entertainment. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 16.
  5. ↑ "Fastbacks Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  6. ↑ Phalen, Tom (October 28, 1994). "Ace of Clubs". The Seattle Times. p. H9.
  7. 1 2 "Answer the Phone Dummy". AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  8. 1 2 Kot, Greg (March 2, 1995). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 8.
  9. 1 2 "Rock". Daily Breeze. November 11, 1994. p. K30.
  10. ↑ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 416.
  11. ↑ Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. pp. 144–145.
  12. ↑ "Fastbacks". Trouser Press. Archived from the original on October 27, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Greil Marcus". Artforum. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  14. ↑ Blake, Joseph (November 10, 1994). "Answer the Phone, Dummy The Fastbacks". News. Times Colonist. p. 1.
  15. ↑ Monk, Katherine (December 8, 1994). "Recordings". Vancouver Sun. p. C8.
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