Fire Schallplatten & CDs

Review: It's impressive that nearly three decades on from when it was originally released, Car Button Cloth sounds suspended from time. It's a record that was released in the 90s but isn't overly indicative of a time and sits in a space of timeless alternative rock. You can file this next to R.E.M, Nirvana or even the Beach Boys. The sixth track, 'Losing Your Mind' is up there in terms of palpable tenderness with Brian Wilson's evocative style. Meanwhile, 'Something's Missing' ranks high up next to Foo Fighters' best stuff in terms of punk rock and pop melodies coming together. Elsewhere, 'Knoxville Girl' is singer Evan Dando's nod to idol Gram Parsons - a country hit infused with unhinged explosions of darkly saturated guitar. Perhaps the thing that is more indicative of the time, though, is the grunge idol fronting the band. Evan Dando's is said to have had led a drug-fueled lifestyle at the time, to the point where was reportedly arrested in Sydney airport, high on acid and bleeding, just the year before this album first came out. Despite chaos around the time of writing, Dando's talent was left impressively intact and this record is an enduring hit, worthy of revisiting in its new red vinyl form.