Robert Christgau: Dean of American Rock Critics

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The La's

  • The La's [London, 1991] A-

Consumer Guide Reviews:

The La's [London, 1991]
Blimey, another pop group with guitars--quartet from Liverpool, no less. Once in a blue moon, though, somebody with the gift comes along, and frontman Lee Mavers is that somebody. Given his spunky-to-grotty voice (think Colin Hay or early Cat Stevens--of Men at Work and "Matthew and Son" respectively, you uncultured dolts), they don't sound enough like the Beatles, and I hope that in a hit or two they find themselves a drummer they can tie to his or her chair, because too often the beat is vestigial (think Quarrymen). But don't look a gift genius in the adenoids--not until he turns into Billy Joel on you. A-