1990s
Every band dreams of instant success. Get a few songs together and ink a label deal. And though 1990s were signed by the UK's Rough Trade Record Company after only a half-dozen shows their rise wasn't quite that swift or direct.
Lead singer/guitarist Jackie (John) McKeown and bassist, Jamie McMorrow, were the founding members of Scottish indie band The Yummy Fur. Musicians doing time in the band included Franz Ferdinand singer Alex Kapranos and drummer Paul Thomson.
The Glasgow band V-Twin contributed drummer Michael McGaughrin.
1990s opened for Pete Doherty's Babyshambles and Franz Ferdinand prior to issuing their '07 debut "Cookies." But McMorrow left later that year and was initially replaced by Teenage Fan Club's Norman Blake for an '07 European tour. Dino Bardot, also from V-Twin, played on North American and Australian shows before becoming a member. The band's sophomore effort, "Kicks," landed in '09.
Start with a chord slashing guitar. Slide in a pumping bass and sharp drums underneath. Fill the holes with cheery backing vocals and top it off with a singer rolling between Ian Hunter and Iggy Pop. That's what the 1990s do on "Cookies." The group opens with the power-pop "You Made Me Like It," then lean Punk for "See You At The Lights," the set's premier track. They're perfectly hedonistic on "Is There A Switch For That?" and "Enjoying Myself." And that's the point, 1990s are a fun band.
The 1990s melodic sense doesn't slow them on "Kicks." Nor are their Rock sensibilities at the mercy of the songs. The balance of drive and spontaneity that made "Cookies" work has been refined but not diminished - which often happens. "Kickstrasse," which darts a little too Punk and sounds strained, is the set's singular disappointment. But there's no resisting "I Don't Even Know What That Is," "Everybody Please Relax," and "The Box," a fuzzed-out masterpiece.