I would like to dedicate this review to Carla Mercer of Warner Brothers, who, despite being the Queen of Hype on occasion (not only an asset but a legitimate requirement when working in the publicity department), has yet to steer me worng when actually coming right out and saying, "I think you'll like this one." Once again, Carla, you are right.

Get ready for pure listening satisfaction in the form of fourteen pop nuggets as you are bid welcome to the Greenberry Woods. Harmonies, hooks, and choruses abound, so obviously, it is the sort of thing I adore...in other words, a sure bet.

Every pop group known to man is borrowed over the course of the group's debut album, Rapple Dapple. From Badfinger to the Bee Gees to the Byrds to Big Star to the Beach Boys to the Beatles (a lot of B's, but not really that far a trip from any of those bands to another), all the classics are definitely utilized in the group's work. It is hard to say who else has influenced them, but echoes of Jellfish, Shoes, The Sighs, Phil Keaggy, Material Issue, XTC, and Squeeze are all over the album. (It is no real suprise that Squeeze had the band as one of two openers on their recent tour.)

Half the fun is picking out which bands influence which songs. The album's second track, "#37 (Feels So Strange)," has traces of the Beatle's "And Your Bird Can Sing," with a background vocal toward the end that positively reeks of JellyFish. "Sentimental Role" has quite a bit of Beach Boys feel to it, not terribly suprising when you consider that Andy Paley, produced Brian Wilson's solo album.

To borrow one of my own headlines, which in turn, paraphases a Nick Lowe album title, this is "pure pop for then and now people." The Greenberry Woods are already a contender for Best Newcomer of the Year ('95), and it is barely February.

Reviewer:  Wiliam Harris, courtesy of Flash Magazine.