From Iceland — The Besties - Singer

Published June 16, 2006

Eighties throwback girl-pop constantly on the brink of collapsing into indie gimmickry, the Besties ‘major’-label debut is made to be listened to religiously in the low-rent New York apartments that birthed the band, but has little lasting value due to the mostly tame songwriting and performances. And I know that sounding rough and unfinished may be fashionable and all, but tightening the production a little wouldn’t kill these guys. Some potentially great pop songs are very nearly destroyed by their garage-quality recording style and excessive playfulness, especially Siren Song and Pirate Song. Despite its various shortcomings, Singer has the feel of a sn sneak preview of a potentially great band that just needs a little time to find its own voice.