The Breeders – Last Splash LP

Description

Thanks to good timing and some great singles,the Breeders‘ second album,Last Splash, turned them into the alternative rock stars thatKim Deal‘s former band,the Pixies, always seemed on the verge of becoming. Joined byDeal‘s twin sisterKelley— with whomKimstarted the band while they were still in their teens — the group expanded on the driving, polished sound of theSafariEP, surrounding its (plentiful) moments of brilliance with nearly as many unfinished ideas. WhenLast Splashis good, it’s great: “Cannonball”‘s instantly catchy collage of bouncy bass, rhythmic stops and starts, and singsong vocals became one of the definitive alt-pop singles of the ’90s. Likewise, the sweetly sexy “Divine Hammer” and swaggering “Saints” are amongthe Breeders‘ finest moments, and deserved all of the airplay they received. Similarly, the charming twang of “Drivin’ on 9,” “I Just Wanna Get Along”‘s spiky punk-pop, and the bittersweet “Invisible Man” added depth that recalled the eclectic turns the band took onPodwhile maintaining the slick allure ofLast Splash‘s hits. However, underdeveloped snippets such as “Roi” and “No Aloha” drag down the album’s momentum, and when the band tries to stretch its range on the rambling, cryptic “Mad Lucas” and “Hag,” it tends to fall flat. The addition of playful but slight instrumentals such as “S.O.S” and “Flipside” and a version of “Do You Love Me Now?” that doesn’t quite match the original’s appeal reflectLast Splash‘s overall unevenness. Still, its best moments — and theDealsisters’ megawatt charm — end up outweighing its inconsistencies to make it one of the alternative rock era’s defining albums. -All Music Guide