Japanese, 2006 reissue with 3 bonus trax! First time on CD, too! The
Barracudas are, simply, one of *the* great jangle-pop bands of all time. The
band melded together the sounds of pop surfers like Jan & Dean, early 80`s
Paisley Pop with hip urban post-garage rockers like Flamin` Groovies, Love`s
more frazzled early garage stomps and song-oriented `60s ensembles like the
Byrds. The result of this formula is infectious, unexpected, and raw. Fans
of Flamin` Groovies most definitely will not be disappointed, as well as
later era The Records, too. "The Barracudas here sound like a younger
Flamin Groovies. (In fact, this five-piece lineup ? easily the Barracudas`
best ? features ex-Groovie guitarist Chris Wilson.) An effortless and catchy
`60sish blend of punky pop, vintage rock`n`roll, mock Merseybeat, snarly
mild psychedelia and Byrdsy 12-string folk-rock."-Trouser Press. See the
recent reissue of their other classic "Endeavor To Persevere" on this site,
too. "4 1/2 stars.. Mean Time is the Barracudas` masterpiece. Coming
several years after their debut, this, the second LP from the band, takes on
the direction suggested of their surfer-wannabe debut. When that album came
out, the band was already leaving the surf thing behind and getting a little
more serious. This is the end result of a journey through the House of Kicks
and into serious rock terrain. If you combined early and latter-day Flamin`
Groovies, this is what you`d get. Tons of gorgeous 12-string jangle, but
with the aggressiveness that was lacking on the last few Groovies albums. At
this point the Barracudas were truly an international band, featuring
members Chris Wilson (himself a former Groovie) from the U.S.A. on guitar
and backing vox and Jim Dickson (Passengers) from Australia on bass, along
with perennials Jeremy Gluck and Robin Wills from merry ole England. Not
only that, but the album originally came out in France and the band was big
in Spain. The album kicks off with two of the band`s finest songs, "Grammar
of Misery" and "Bad News." Both of these songs show the band in their finest
light: sensitivity mixed with resolve. A rare combo for such a rocking
outfit. From there the pace is maintained throughout, which is why this is
almost loaded with greatest hits. "Shades of Today" is excellent lyrically,
and "Dead Skin" is a truly chilling account of what-ifs and coulda-shouldas.
"Middle Class Blues" is unique because it tells the story of so many white
people from the suburbs. The album closers, "Eleventh Hour" and the
desperate wail of "Hear Me Calling," send it out the way it came in: rocking
to the jangle. A must."-AMG.
 Listen - mp3
Listen - mp3
Listen - mp3
Listen - mp3
Listen - mp3 | 
