The McGuires

• Start Breathing [Righteous, 1987] B+

Consumer Guide Reviews:

Start Breathing [Righteous, 1987]
With hundreds of other bands working out imperceptible variations on songform, usually by admixing noise or roots or exoticism, the McGuires aim to do nothing new, and since they have the gift of song to begin with, that's a plus. Oh, they do call their friendly sound "barbecue-beat," but there's no petty territoriality here, no minute formalism expressing selves that are barely worth the trouble. Just middle-class rock-and-rollers voicing their middle-class disaffection with a measure of lyric grace. I'm fond of "T.V. Party" (they're not going), "Let You Down" (and apologize in advance), and "She's a Lawyer" ("Sorry, sister, she's not gay"). You may like the one about the prophet Elijah. B+